The EUIPO Observatory has recently released the 2022 Intellectual Property SME Scoreboard, a follow-up to the 2016 and 2019 editions.

This new edition’s data, collected from 8.372 SMEs in the 27 EU Member States, shows that only 10% of European SMEs registered IPRs. Nonetheless, almost all (93%) experienced a positive impact of registration on their business, namely an improved reputation or image of the company, better IP protection, better long-term business prospects, and financial gain from their registered IPRs.

The reasons for not registering are that SMEs do not see additional benefits from registering IPRs (35%), they don’t consider their intellectual asset innovative enough for IP protection (20%), they lack knowledge (19%) or registration requirements are not met (19%).

Also, 15% of SMEs with registered IPRs have suffered a loss of turnover and reputation due to IPRs infringement and decided to enforce them.

Such data are key to implementing the European Commission’s SME strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe and IP action plan, as well as EUIPO’s initiatives aimed at supporting European SMEs.

To read the full report, please click here. To read the executive summary, please click here. To consult the infographics please click here.

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Following the special focus on SMEs by the European Commission and the EUIPO, ECTA established the ECTA SME Task Force in 2021 to assist our Association in taking active part in the EU debate and activities related to SMEs. ECTA aims to contribute to more and better use of IP by SMEs as well as to highlight the relevant role of IP practitioners in bringing this about.