What IBM is patenting — and where it isn't
Portfolio archetype: Dominant · slowing · 276,293 US patents.
Covers 36 entities: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP, IBM CORPORATION, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATION, IBM, +30 more. US-only.
| Total US patents | 276,293 |
|---|---|
| Granted / Applications | 138,203 / 138,090 |
| Estimated in force | 222,222 |
| Filing span | 1981–2025 |
| Filing momentum | slowing — recent-window filings down to ~40% of the prior window |
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Where they focus
Closest competitors
Top other assignees in this portfolio's main technology areas. Raw assignee names — a single company may appear under several name-variants.
| Assignee | Areas of activity | US patents |
|---|---|---|
| SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD | Digital Computing · Semiconductor Devices · Data Networking | 62,383 |
| INTEL CORPORATION | Digital Computing · Semiconductor Devices · Data Networking | 42,599 |
| MICROSOFT CORPORATION | Digital Computing · Data Networking · Semiconductor Devices | 37,320 |
| MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC | Digital Computing · Data Networking · Semiconductor Devices | 29,209 |
| FUJITSU LIMITED | Digital Computing · Data Networking · Semiconductor Devices | 26,155 |
| HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD | Data Networking · Digital Computing · Semiconductor Devices | 24,408 |
| MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC | Digital Computing · Semiconductor Devices · Data Networking | 24,226 |
| APPLE INC | Digital Computing · Data Networking · Semiconductor Devices | 23,405 |
Strategic read
For a competitor
The wall here sits in Digital Computing (G06F) with 115,268 patents — roughly 40% of a 276,293-patent portfolio concentrated in one CPC area — backed by Data Networking (H04L) at 31,734 and a growing AI & Machine Learning (G06N) presence at 10,478. With an estimated 222,222 patents in force across a filing span back to 1981, freedom-to-operate analysis in core computing and networking should map exposure against this density rather than assume open space. Recent filings have slowed to roughly 40% of the prior window, so the near-term frontier of new claims is narrowing even as the granted base remains broad.
For an acquirer
Diligence should weight the scale and concentration of this portfolio: 138,203 granted patents and 138,090 pending applications, with an estimated 222,222 in force and 115,268 filings in Digital Computing (G06F) alone. Momentum is slowing — recent-window filings are down to about 40% of the prior window — so examine whether the pending pipeline and renewal posture sustain coverage as older grants age toward expiry. The citation-impact share of 0.142 and the established, 1981-onward maturity warrant a closer look at which assets carry the breadth versus the long tail.
For a licensee
For licensees in computing infrastructure, the relevant depth is overwhelmingly in Digital Computing (G06F) at 115,268 patents, with secondary clusters in Data Networking (H04L) at 31,734 and Business & Financial Tech (G06Q) at 15,336. The AI & Machine Learning (G06N) holding of 10,478 patents is worth examining for anyone operating in that space. With slowing recent filings but an estimated 222,222 patents in force, the value sits in the established granted base rather than a fast-expanding frontier.
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AI-generated research summary, not legal or investment advice — consult a registered patent attorney before any decision. One of PatentLens.AI's free sample reports — browse all company reports.