China-based Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) became the top recipient of wafer foundry patents approved by the China authorities in 2008, whereas Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) ranked seventh, according to the China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA).
Industry sources have pointed out that more China-based firms recognize patent portfolios as part of their sustainable business approaches, not just a way to avoid infringing competitors' intellectual property rights.
SMIC obtained 621 foundry patents in the region during 2008, compared to 152 during 2007, according to the data released by CSIA. Meanwhile, rival TSMC saw its patent applications in China reduce from 173 to 174.
SMIC also applied for 55 IC packaging and testing technology patents in 2008, a jump from 11 it filed in 2007, the data show. Taiwan-based Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and ChipMOS Technologies continued to enhance their patent portfolios in China last year, but the increases in their number of patents were less significant than SMIC's.
As for the IC design segment, China-based ZTE and Huawei Technologies were granted 998 and 432 patents in 2008, respectively, compared to 354 and 288 in 2007, according to the data.
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