Patents have become increasingly recognized as valuable assets over the last two decades. In many sectors, owning a significant number of patents signals a company's capacity for innovation and its leadership position within the industry.

IBM has intentionally shifted its focus away from numeric patent leadership, which it held for 20 years. Instead, the company is now prioritizing high-quality advancements in areas like hybrid cloud, AI, and quantum computing, while balancing trade secrets and patents through an open innovation model that encourages collaboration with external partners.

Despite the rise of AI and big data, intellectual property rights are not expected to disappear. Companies like IBM emphasize the need for a thoughtful IP strategy that includes copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and patents to protect innovations, while also exploring external collaboration to enhance innovation.