IFI Press Release

January 13, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Companies Receiving Most U.S. Patents in 2002

Once again, IBM Corporation tops the list of companies receiving U.S. patents in 2002, with 3,333 patents for the year, according to the current edition of the Patent Intelligence and Technology Report (PITR) published by IFI CLAIMS® Patent Services.

For ten consecutive years, IBM Corporation has held the top spot in number of U.S. patents issued. In 1993, IBM jumped from sixth place the previous year to its current leadership position and has successfully resisted all challengers since then. In 2002, IBM received 76% more patents than Canon KK of Japan, which holds second place with 1,895 patents for the year. Micron Technology, NEC Corporation, and Hitachi occupy the remainder of the five highest ranked positions. All counts in the Patent Information and Technology Report are based upon multiple assigned records of all Utility and Statutory patents.

IBM Corporation received most of its patents for software related inventions and inventions in areas such as networked information processing, data storage, and microelectronics.

General Electric Company moved into the top ten last year, advancing from 13^th to 8^th place, with 305 additional patents, a 27% increase over their total for 2001.  Other notable advancers were Delphi Technologies, whose 90% increase in patent issues moved them from position 49 to position 26, and Honeywell International, placing in the 50^th spot with a 67% increase in number of patents over last year.

Complete information on over 1,750 companies worldwide who received 10 or more US patents in 2002 will be found in the Patent Intelligence and Technology Report, available in May from IFI CLAIMS® Patent Services, an Aspen Publishers company. IFI produces monthly electronic updates of the Patent Intelligence and Technology Report which monitor current patenting activity throughout the year.

Copies of this press release and a listing of the top 56 companies receiving U.S. patents in 2002 may be found on our web site at www.ificlaims.com

Check our web site at www.ificlaims.com/otherproducts_pitr.html for more information on the Patent Intelligence and Technology Report. To place an order, simply call 800-638-8437 or fax 800-901-9075.