Sharp fall in patent applications as new EU regulations take hold

Patent applications plummeted by 35 per cent last year. The Irish Patent Office (IPO) received 287 applications for full-term and short-term patents – 153 fewer than in 2015.

International trademark registrations fell by 25 per cent, with the number of registrations last year falling below 1,000 for the first time.

The IPO received 891 international applications for marks seeking protection in Ireland last year, compared to 1,180 the previous year.

National trademark applications ...