Korean Media: Even Samsung and LG Combined Can't Surpass Huawei's Patent Advantage!
On April 6, South Korean media outlet THE GURU published an article stating that the combined innovation capacity of Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics still failed to surpass a single Chinese company—Huawei—in terms of patents.
Data released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) shows that the total number of international patent applications submitted under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) reached 275,900 in 2025, marking a 0.7% increase from the previous year, continuing the upward trend. South Korea maintained its fourth position with 25,016 applications, up 4.9% year-on-year. However, corporate performance fell short of expectations.
China’s Huawei secured 7,523 patents last year, maintaining its global leadership in patents for the ninth consecutive year since 2017. This figure exceeds the combined total of South Korea’s tech giants Samsung Electronics (4,698 patents) and LG Electronics (2,400 patents), which totaled 7,098 patents. Although LG Electronics rose from sixth to fourth place this year, Huawei’s patent advantage remains firmly intact.
From a national perspective, major innovation powerhouses such as the United States (-3.0%), Japan (-1.0%), and Germany (-1.8%) have seen their innovation capabilities stagnate, experiencing years of negative growth, while China’s leading position is accelerating. Notably, following Huawei, Ningde Times (2,203 applications) ranked fifth, indicating growing influence of Chinese enterprises.
Looking at technology sectors, the semiconductor industry saw a remarkable 6.1% year-on-year growth, reflecting how competition for core infrastructure in the era of artificial intelligence has evolved into a battle over intellectual property rights. WIPO analysis points out that as AI becomes a driving force behind innovation, related technological applications are rapidly expanding, prompting global companies to strengthen their intellectual property portfolios amid shortened technology cycles.
Chinese enterprises are extending their momentum across all areas of intellectual property, not only patents but also design and trademarks. In the international design application system—the Hague System—China holds an overwhelming advantage: Huawei (1,200 applications) ranks first globally, and Xiaomi (659 applications) ranks second. Samsung Electronics struggles hard, barely holding fifth place with 525 applications, but faces increasing challenges due to the strong pressure from Chinese firms. South Korea ranks ninth in the Madrid System for international trademark applications, posing serious challenges to its efforts to expand global brand influence.
WIPO Director General Dang Hongshen said: “The increase in investment in the field of artificial intelligence is driving growth in patent filings. We will continue to enhance our digital services to help businesses effectively protect their creative ideas across borders.”
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1861707718033420/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s).