IBM's first reported patent was for punch card tabulators in 1911 on the heels of Hollerith work.  Bloomberg reported that it has held onto its patent top pole position now for 18 years in a row, being awarded 5,896 patents last year, with Samsung at its heels, but lagging with only 4,551 US patents granted.

The three others top US companies reported  in the top ten are Microsoft with 3,094, Intel at 1,653 and Hewlett Packard at 1,480.

Japan holds four top 10 places with Canon at 2,552, Panasonic some 2,482, and Toshiba's  2,246, all of whom beat Sony at only 2,150. Last into the top 10 league interestingly at 9th slot is Korean LG with 1490 patents.

Gaberlunzie waits, with baited breath, to see if China moves into these competitive ranks in the next few years.