Canon actively promotes the globalization of its business and places great value on obtaining patents overseas, carefully adhering to a patent-filing strategy that pursues patents in essential countries and regions while taking into consideration the business strategies and technology and product trends unique to each location. 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.
Canon U.S. patent rankings among Japanese companies 2005–2016
| Year | Ranking* | No. of patents |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1st (3rd) | 3,665 |
| 2015 | 1st (3rd) | 4,127 |
| 2014 | 1st (3rd) | 4,048 |
| 2013 | 1st (3rd) | 3,820 |
| 2012 | 1st (3rd) | 3,173 |
| 2011 | 1st (3rd) | 2,818 |
| 2010 | 1st (4th) | 2,551 |
| 2009 | 1st (4th) | 2,200 |
| 2008 | 1st (3rd) | 2,107 |
| 2007 | 1st (3rd) | 1,983 |
| 2006 | 1st (3rd) | 2,366 |
| 2005 | 1st (2nd) | 1,829 |
| * | Number in parenthesis represents Canon's ranking among all companies |
| Note: | Number of patents for 2016 based on preliminary figures released by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services. Figures for 2005 to 2015 are based on information issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. |
Source: Canon Global