Between 2018 and 2022, the Italian IP landscape was a hive of activity. A total of 183 patent prosecution firms in Italy were actively engaged in handling intellectual property matters. These representatives handled an impressive 85,561 applications. This data, sourced from IP Pilot, provides a comprehensive view of the patent activity during this period.
Rank: Largest 25 Patent Prosecution Firms in Italy
The Italian patent landscape is dominated by a few key players. The top three firms were STUDIO TORTA (8,355 applications), JACOBACCI & PARTNERS (7,937 applications), and BUGNION S.P.A. (7,801 applications), have handled a significant number of filings from 2018 to 2022. Interestingly, these three firms alone account for almost 30% of all patent filings in Italy during this period.
Their average filings have shown a consistent upward trend, with STUDIO TORTA growing by 29%, JACOBACCI & PARTNERS by 33%, and BUGNION S.P.A. by 39%.
Other notable firms were BARZANO & ZANARDO and GLP SRL, with total filings of 4,385 and 3,229 respectively.
Additionally, PRAXI INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY S.P.A. and PERANI & PARTNERS S.P.A. have made remarkable strides, more than doubling their growth during this period. This demonstrates the vibrant and competitive nature of the Italian patent landscape, which continues to evolve and adapt to the changing times.
Overall Patent Landscape in Italy
When we delve deeper into the data, we can see some interesting trends in the share of foreign filings and PCT/PCT-based filings from 2018 to 2022.
Firms with International Exposure
Several firms have a significant portion of their portfolio exposed to international clients. For instance, GLP SRL has the highest share of foreign filings at 34%, and a whopping 78% of their filings are PCT/PCT-based. Similarly, BOTTI & FERRARI S.R.L. has a 33% share of foreign filings, with 67% being PCT/PCT-based. These high percentages indicate a strong focus on a global reach.
Firms with Domestic Focus
On the other hand, the majority of patent prosecution firms in Italy work with domestic clients, with the amount of work coming from international innovators being lower than 11% out of the total amount prosecuted in the considered timeframe.
For example, such firms as ING. CLAUDIO BALDI S.R.L. and MODIANO & PARTNERS have a foreign filing share of 0% and 1% respectively, indicating a the sole concentration on working with the domestic applicants.
This implies the importance of understanding and navigating the nuances of the Italian market for patent prosecution.
Italy: Number of Patent Applications and Shares of Foreign Filings per Firm
Case Exchange Trends
When looking at the case exchange trends, it’s clear that Italy has a strong relationship with several countries.
From 2018 to 2022, patent prosecution firms in Italy sent a total of 37,941 patent cases to their foreign associates: the top five countries receiving cases from Italy are the United States (9,998 cases), China (7,741 cases), Japan (3,437 cases), Canada (2,633 cases) and India (1,963 cases).
Italian firms obtained 9,112 patent cases from global counterparts. The top five countries sending cases to Italy are China (3,454 cases), the United States (3,020 cases), Japan (826 cases), South Korea (403 cases) and Israel (351 cases). This shows a strong bilateral relationship in patent filings between these countries and Italy.
Law Firms Receiving Most Cases from Italy: Country Breakdown 2018-2022
Law Firms Sending Most Cases to Italy: Country Breakdown 2018-2022
To Sum Up
The Italian patent sector is dynamic and diverse, dominated by a few key players who handle a significant portion of the filings. Despite this, the industry is evolving, with firms more than doubling their growth in the last 5 years. The country has a strong international presence, with a high percentage of PCT/PCT-based filings among internationally exposed firms. Simultaneously, most Italian firms focus on domestic clients, demonstrating the sector’s capacity to meet both local and international needs.
