10 6 2 9 Journal of Towa Institute of Intellectual Property Vol.6, No.2 ＜米国＞ 11 the United States 米国特許と先端技術の輸入 U.S. Patents and High-Tech Imports Maschoff Brennan Maschoff Brennan Attorney and Partner Attorney and Partner R. Burns Israelsen R. Burns Israelsen As the United States economy continues its recovery, trade in advance technology 2009 33 2013 4 products has increased significantly during recent years. Since the depths of the recent recession in 2009, the value of advance technology products imported into the U.S. has 4 increased by 33%, to more than $400 billion USD in 2013. 23% 28 3 During the same four-year period, the number of U.S. patent applications filed by 50% applicants has increased by more than 23%, to over 283,000 – or approximately 50% of patent applications filed at the USPTO. The recently-implemented America Invents Act includes provisions that enhance the 1 ability of international patent applicants to advance their rights in the U.S. in a way that 3 incrementally approaches a more harmonized global intellectual property system. For example, the U.S. has a modified "first-to-file" system that more closely resembles the systems in place in many other countries. Third parties now have opposition options that are similar to those available in Europe. Although the high-tech economy is growing at a rapid pace in many developing markets - at rates that exceed those in the U.S. - we expect that United States patent protection will continue to be a cornerstone for global patent strategies of companies worldwide.