Japan and the United States led all other nations in the formation of international patent families involving optical fiber technology. Japan surpassed the United States in 1981 and led the seven-nation group thereafter. (See appendix table 6-26.) Japan held 36 percent of the total (with 684 international families) families formed over the period studied; the United States held 30 percent (559 international families). West Germany, Great Britain, and France trailed with 17, 9, and 7 percent of the total, respectively. East Germany and South Korea had comparatively insignificant numbers of international patent families in this technology. (See figure 6-25.)
When the total number of foreign applications associated with each country's optical fiber technology is considered, the United States and Japan switch places, and the United States becomes the leader in terms of total numbers of foreign patents sought for optical fiber technology. Out of a total of 4,063 optical fiber foreign patents generated from priority applications filed by the seven countries under study during the 1981-85 period, the United States generated 36 percent (1,457 patents) of the total, and Japan generated 30 percent (1,228 patents). In the second half of the decade, the United States improved on its lead over Japan. However, the Western European nations showed the greatest growth in foreign patenting, gaining on both the United States and Japan. (See text table 6-10.)
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