A prior post addressed the number of golf club related patents that issued in 2006 for the giants. Now, let’s look at the number of patent applications that published in 2006 for the same companies.

Callaway Golf: had 21 golf club related utility patent applications publish in 2006
  
Acushnet: had 15 golf club related utility patent applications publish in 2006

Karsten: had 9 golf club related utility patent applications publish in 2006

Nike: had 4 golf club related utility patent applications publish in 2006
  
Taylor Made: had 2 golf club related utility patent applications publish in 2006

What does this tell us? Well, Callaway remains the clear leader and surprisingly Taylor Made almost dropped off the map after having 11 club related utility patents issue in 2006. Does this indicate a change in Taylor Made’s patent portfolio strategy, or perhaps a change in their research and development program?

David Dawsey – The Intellectual Property Eyes and Ears of the Golf Industry

(PS - these are informal statistics compiled quickly by me... no help from the manfacturers... estimated error of less than 5%)