Thomson Scientific Publishes "World IP Today" Analyzing Global Patent Activity and Technology Innovations Over the Past Decade

PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, April 25 /PRNewswire/ --

- Reports Created in Observance of "World Intellectual Property Day" as Declared by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Thomson Scientific, part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information solutions to the worldwide research and business communities, today published two issues of World IP Today in global observance of "World Intellectual Property Day" as declared by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

"Thomson Scientific enjoyed the opportunity to support WIPO by celebrating World Intellectual Property Day," said Stephen Trotter, Senior Patent Analyst, Thomson Scientific. "Further, we were inspired by this year's theme: Encouraging Creativity and thought it appropriate to evaluate the global IP landscape to determine which countries are forging change in the areas of patents and technology innovation."

World IP Today: A Thomson Scientific Report On Global Patent Activity from 1997-2006 highlights patent output from the G8 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) plus China and South Korea. Findings indicate:

-- Global patent activity has grown by 72% over the past decade with a 34% increase in "unique inventions" or brand new inventions -- Since 1997, the U.S. and China have shown the most impressive growth with 145% and 470% increases respectively, encroaching on Japan's still-leading position -- China dominates unique inventions by academia, with an eight-fold increase since 1997 -- South Korea matures as an innovative nation and safeguards more inventions worldwide than ever before -- Despite China's surge in patent activity, there is little focus on protecting Chinese intellectual property outside of China

World IP Today: A Thomson Scientific Report On Global Technology Innovations from 1997-2006 reviews the massive increase in technology innovations developed globally over the past ten years (1997-2006), highlighting tri-lateral inventions or inventions that have been filed in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Among the key findings:

-- Inventions relating to semiconductors, telecommunications and computing experience huge growth rates of 75%, 86% and 172% respectively since 1997 -- Japan can be credited with the current state of today's high-tech market, holding the majority share of tri-lateral inventions across all technologies in 2006 -- Samsung is the top patent assignee in tri-lateral inventions for 2006 -- Samsung and Denso lead the way in diversified multinationals in terms of tri-lateral inventions in 2006

For complete copies of these Thomson Scientific "World IP Today" reports, including the methodology behind the findings, please visit: http://scientific.thomson.com/press/insight/

For more information on World Intellectual Property Day, please visit the World Intellectual Property Organization website at: http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/world_ip/2007

About The Thomson Corporation

The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com) is a global leader in providing essential electronic workflow solutions to business and professional customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, scientific research and healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC).

Thomson Scientific is a business of The Thomson Corporation. Its information solutions assist professionals at every stage of research and development-from discovery to analysis to product development and distribution. Thomson Scientific information solutions can be found at scientific.thomson.com.

Web site: http://www.scientific.thomson.com/press/insight http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/world_ip/2007 http://www.thomson.com