“Drone” Technology Innovation Gathering Pace As Competition Heats Up

• 5,301 new patents for technology related to drones were filed in 2016/17, up 327% from 1,242 the year before
• Key driver for the rise is the competition between drone technology businesses

Why is this important?
 
Competition between drone developers is fierce, and they recognise that patents are vital to protect investment in R&D.
 
Thomson Reuters says that the most active filer was Ewatt Technology, who filed 110 new patents last year. Among the other most active filers were DJI, a market leading drone manufacturer, who filed 49 new patents last year and Parrot, the French wireless technology company, who filed 37.
 
Thomson Reuters says that the actual number of patent activity around drones may be higher, as many Governments have the right to make some patents, usually those that relate to military uses, national secrets. In the UK 51 patents were subject to such orders in 2015 whilst in the USA 95 patents were subject to such orders in the same period.

Why has this increase in patents for drones occurred?
 
Thomson Reuters says that the rise in drone patent filings is primarily due to rapidly growing competition between manufacturers to introduce new technical advancements and commercial applications. Patents help prevent a drone developer’s R&D being copied or ensure they can properly license their new technology to other manufacturers.
 
The rapid growth of drone sales for both recreational purposes and commercial uses continues to fuel R&D across China, the USA and Europe.
 
China overtook the USA in 2012/13 in the filing of drone patents and now has the highest number of filings per country at 4,106, with the USA on 496 in 2016/17. 3 drone patents were filed from the UK in the WIPO in the last twelve months.

Examples

Recent legal disputes centred on drones include:

• Drone Technologies Inc. infringement case against Parrot Inc, for their patented technology that enables the magnetometers and accelerometers in smartphones or tablets to control the movement of the drone. By tilting the phone right, the drone will fly right etc. Drone Technologies, holds two patents for this type of system - one from 2009 and the other from 2012.
• DJI’s, lawsuit against Yuneec for the infringement of two of their patents, “Systems and Methods for Target Tracking” and “Interchangeable Mounting Platform”. DJI, said that it welcomed competition in the industry, but that it must protect its’ intellectual property.

Gwilym Roberts, Partner at Kilburn & Strode, author of “A Practical Guide to Drafting Patents” for Thomson Reuters:
 
“The competition between drone developers is fierce, and they recognise that patents are vital to protect investment in R&D.”
 
“This patent drone warfare is only just starting; with the commercial value, rapid rate of development and escalating filings, we see the classic ingredients for legal battles shaping up.”
  
“Experience shows that we can expect the patent filings to increase in tandem, as companies look to shore up their war chests in case disputes do start.”