Canon top Japanese firm in US patents for 12th year

CANON, leader in imaging solutions, announced Tuesday that it was again ranked first among Japanese companies and third overall for the number of US patents awarded in 2016, according to the latest ranking of preliminary patent results issued by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services in January 2017. As part of its research and development efforts, Canon actively pursues patents in a number of countries and regions, while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends. Among these, the United States, with its many high-tech companies and large market scale, represents a particularly important region in terms of business expansion and technology alliances. Technological innovation continues to be a high priority for Canon and a key attribute to its corporate DNA, with continued investment in developing a wide variety of powerful products, solutions and services within its core markets and new business areas. Through close cooperation between Canon’s technology and intellectual property divisions, the Company aims to improve its technological capabilities while further enhancing its intellectual property rights. Canon has ranked in the top five patent holders for 31 consecutive years.