Question 1

What is a Patent Strength Score?

Accepted Answer

The Patent Strength Score rates company patent portfolios from A (strongest) to F (weakest) using four weighted factors: portfolio size as a proxy for innovation output (30%), claims breadth measuring the average number of claims per patent (25%), time remaining reflecting average years until expiration (25%), and technology diversity measuring how many unique CPC classification classes the portfolio spans (20%). Companies with large, broad, long-lived, and diversified patent portfolios score highest. The score helps investors and competitors quickly assess the relative strength of a company's intellectual property position.

Question 2

Where does this data come from?

Accepted Answer

All patent data comes from the USPTO PatentsView API, maintained by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. PatentsView processes the full text and metadata of every U.S. patent ever granted, including inventor information, assignee (owner), classification codes, filing and grant dates, and claims. The database is updated weekly as new patents are issued. For pharmaceutical patents specifically, we cross-reference the FDA Orange Book, which lists patents associated with approved drug products. This combination of USPTO and FDA data gives the most complete picture of drug patent protection timelines.

Question 3

How are patent expirations calculated?

Accepted Answer

U.S. utility patents filed on or after June 8, 1995 expire 20 years from the earliest effective filing date. Patents filed before that date expire 17 years from the grant date. Our calculations use these standard rules to compute base expiration dates. However, actual patent terms can be modified by Patent Term Adjustments (PTA) for USPTO processing delays, Patent Term Extensions (PTE) for FDA regulatory review delays on pharmaceutical patents, and terminal disclaimers that can shorten the term. Our displayed dates reflect the base calculation and may differ from the actual expiration by months or years for patents with adjustments.

Question 4

Can I track when a specific patent expires?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Browse any company page to see their full patent portfolio with individual expiration dates, or visit a drug page to see all patents protecting a specific pharmaceutical product. Our Expiring section lets you browse all patents expiring in a given year, which is particularly useful for identifying upcoming "patent cliffs" where generic competition may enter the market. For pharmaceutical patents, the expiration timeline directly impacts when generic or biosimilar versions can receive FDA approval, often resulting in significant price reductions for consumers.

Question 5

What is a patent cliff?

Accepted Answer

A patent cliff occurs when a company's key patents expire in a short time period, exposing a significant portion of their revenue to generic or competing products. The term is most commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry, where blockbuster drugs can generate billions in annual revenue that drops sharply (often 80-90%) once generic competitors enter the market after patent expiration. For example, when a major drug like Humira or Lipitor loses patent protection, biosimilar or generic versions typically launch within months, dramatically reducing the originator's market share. Patent cliffs can have major implications for company valuations and stock prices.

Question 6

What is the difference between a patent and a trademark?

Accepted Answer

A patent protects an invention or process, giving the holder exclusive rights to make, use, and sell the invention for a limited time (typically 20 years from filing). A trademark protects a brand name, logo, or slogan and can last indefinitely as long as it is actively used in commerce. Patents are relevant to PatentCliff because they have defined expiration dates that create competitive inflection points. When a patent expires, anyone can manufacture or use the previously protected invention. Drug brand names (trademarks) continue to exist after patent expiration, which is why you can buy both branded Tylenol and generic acetaminophen.

Track when patentsexpire.

Top Patent Holders

IBM

Samsung

Huawei

Google

Microsoft

Apple

Canon

Amazon

LG

General Electric

Intel

Sony

Qualcomm

Siemens

TSMC

Toyota

Panasonic

Nvidia

Philips

Broadcom

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Patent Expirations by Year

Drug Patent Watch

Ibrance

Farxiga

Dupixent

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Herceptin

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Understand the Patent Cliff

The 2026-2030 Patent Cliff Report

When Will Generic Ozempic Be Available?

Patent Cliff 2026: Every Drug

What Is a Patent Cliff?

How Drug Prices Drop

Biosimilars vs. Generics

Frequently Asked Questions