Women Inventors Double Their Share of Patents

While men still file many more patents than women, female inventors are increasing their share of U.S. patents and trademarks. Women were listed as inventors on 18 percent of all patents issued to U.S. inventors, according to data released today by the National Women’s Business Council. That’s double the share of patents women were granted in 1990. “An increase in patent and trademark ownership may indicate growth in women-owned companies,” says council Chairwoman Donna James. “Very little research has specifically studied women business owners and intellectual property,” she says.

The Patent Office doesn’t ask applicants about their gender. To determine how many patents were granted to members of each sex, the NWBC report used Census and Social Security data to determine whether the name on a patent application is likely to belong to a man or a woman. The study looked at patents granted from 1975 to 2010, and trademarks filed from 1980 to 2010. Overall, the review found higher numbers of women listed on patents than had been previously reported.