Industries dependent on patents, trademarks and copyrights account for 44% of U.S. gross domestic product and employ approximately one-third of the total American workforce, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reported in its latest economic impact study released Aug. 3.
Workers in IP-intensive sectors earn higher wages than comparable workers in non-IP-intensive industries, according to the study. The findings provide a quantitative basis for policymakers weighing the economic stakes of intellectual property enforcement and trade negotiations.
The study covers sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals and technology to entertainment and manufacturing, all of which rely heavily on patent, trademark or copyright protections to sustain their competitive positions.
The 44% GDP figure reframes the economic stakes of ongoing trade negotiations, particularly disputes over intellectual property protections with China and other trading partners. The Trump administration has cited IP theft as a primary justification for trade enforcement actions.
The employment data carries workforce development implications as well. With one-third of American workers employed in IP-intensive industries, policies that affect patent and trademark protections have direct consequences for job creation and wage growth.
The USPTO study updates a series of reports the agency has published since 2012 tracking the economic contribution of IP-intensive industries. The trend line has shown IP-intensive sectors growing as a share of total economic output.