Sports industry sees strong growth in patents, trademarks and designs

On World Intellectual Property Day 2026, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released new data highlighting the rapid growth of intellectual property use across the sports industry.

According to WIPO’s Technology SPARK report, the sports sector remains one of the most dynamic areas for the creation and protection of intellectual property. Between 2016 and 2025, more than 65,700 sport-related inventions were disclosed worldwide, alongside over 1.25 million trademark filings and more than 70,000 industrial design registrations.

The growth rates are particularly noteworthy. WIPO reports that between 2015 and 2025, the number of sport-related patent filings increased by an average of 7.6% annually, compared with 4.4% growth for patent filings overall. Sport-related trademark registrations grew by 6.1% per year—almost twice the global average—while industrial design filings expanded by 8.3% annually, significantly outpacing worldwide trends.

WIPO notes that modern sport is no longer driven solely by athletic performance. Today, its development increasingly depends on innovation and intangible assets. Patents protect new technologies and equipment, trademarks build the value of sports brands, and industrial designs provide competitive advantages through distinctive product appearance and user experience.

Asia leads the world in both patent and industrial design filings, accounting for 63% and 76% of applications respectively. North America ranks second in patent activity, while Europe remains the leading region for trademark registrations, reflecting its concentration of major sports brands, clubs, and commercial sports enterprises.

For companies operating in sports equipment, fitness technologies, wearable electronics, physical activity monitoring systems, sports medicine, and digital sports services, international patent protection is becoming increasingly important. Developing an innovative product without securing adequate intellectual property rights significantly increases the risk of imitation and the loss of competitive advantage.

The growing number of sports-related innovations is accompanied by intensifying competition in global markets. In this environment, intellectual property protection has become an essential component of a company’s commercial strategy. For rights holders seeking to expand across Eurasia, the Eurasian patent system offers an efficient route to regional protection. A single Eurasian patent can provide patent protection across the eight member states of the Eurasian Patent Convention: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

WIPO’s findings confirm that sport remains one of the most innovation-driven sectors of the global economy, with intellectual property playing a critical role in technology commercialization, brand development, and business growth. As patent activity continues to accelerate, timely protection of innovations is becoming an increasingly important factor in maintaining competitive advantage in both domestic and international markets.

If you have any questions or require assistance in obtaining IP protection through the EAPO system, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@patentica.com.