CONTRIBUTION OF PATENTS TO COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT

In a rapidly developing and changing world, intellectual property rights have become one of the most important indicators of development. It's evident in every field that a country's level of development is paralleled by its intellectual property rights. In today's world, we are witnessing and observing a competition not so much for tangible assets as for the intellectual property rights that underpin them. This is because every intellectual property with a solid foundation also leads to a strong tangible asset.

Today, intellectual property rights are now the fulcrum of trade wars. It's fair to say that companies with prior intellectual property awareness are not just one, but dozens of steps ahead of others. In this era of a complete technological offensive, patents are a crucial part of the agenda and the primary focus of manufacturability. Almost daily, we hear about a new patent, and we continue to be surprised, wondering, "This has been done, too!" We learn about the features of smartphones that haven't even been released yet from patents, and we witness the name of a different product we've been using for years become embroiled in patent wars. We live and die with patents, so to speak.

So why is a patent so important? As is well known, a patent primarily grants its owner the right not to manufacture, but to prevent others from producing it. When we consider whether it's enough to prevent our competitors from producing our invention, we see that this isn't enough either. Owning a patent but failing to convert it into its primary purpose—commercial gain—will not contribute significantly to either the individual, the institution, or the country it belongs to. Patents achieve their primary purpose when they are protected and commercialized.

Each patent application benefits primarily the inventor and, indirectly, the institution and country to which it is affiliated. It has become commonplace to see news reports of companies making substantial profits by selling or licensing their patents. Companies are no longer known for their real estate holdings, but for their brand value. Not only companies but also universities have begun to focus on patent-focused research. In the US, in particular, universities are seen generating substantial profits from patents and facing lawsuits with major corporations over patent infringement.

Patent data also provides insight into the future of companies and countries. Today, almost all prominent brands prioritize intellectual property rights, particularly patents. Huawei, which has made significant strides and made a name for itself in recent years, is the company that filed the most European patent applications in 2019, with 3,524 applications. As a result, it's no coincidence that it's entering a fierce competition with Samsung and Apple, the industry's dominant figures.

Patent başvurularının ülke ekonomisine de katkısı önemli derecededir. Patent başvurularındaki %11’lik bir artışın ülke ekonomisinde yaklaşık %1’lik bir büyümeye etki ettiği görülmüştür. Huawei’den başlamışken Çin’den devam edelim. Çin, 2000 yılı itibari ile büyük bir patent atağına geçmiş ve bugün yıllık ortalama 1,5 milyon adet patent başvurusu ile dünyada lider konuma gelmiştir. Her ne kadar bu patent başvurularının %30 luk bir bölümü belge aşamasına geçse de patent kültürünün gelişmesi sonucu Çin’in bugün ticari alanda ulaştığı seviye gözler önüne serilmektedir.

While every country and institution has its own method for keeping pace with the evolving landscape and gaining an advantage in patent wars, the most important thing is to thoroughly understand the true purpose of a patent and how it should be used. While focusing solely on applications can help applicants adapt to the patent ecosystem, it can also lead to financial and time losses. When starting the patent process, it's essential to be knowledgeable about numerous issues, such as patent searches, infringement, and violations, and to anticipate the next step. Furthermore, the most crucial part of the patent application process is the proper preparation of the patent application file, which forms the basis for protection. Even a single comma can change the meaning of a patent file, and a mistake can result in the wasting of all R&D efforts and even the loss of revenues that could have been earned through the subsequent twenty years of protection. Therefore, it is crucial for anyone involved in inventing to be familiar with patent language and understand what a patent file is intended to convey and protect.

In conclusion, considering that innovation has no end and invention is age-appropriate, we can say that everyone is a potential inventor. Therefore, the starting point for progress in the patent field is the widespread adoption and adoption of patent awareness. In the new world, those who avoid patents will remain passive spectators in competition.