Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of patents successfully lodged by indigenous small and medium enterprises, SMEs, in each year since 2011; the number of copyrights taken out on software by indigenous SMEs in each year since 2011; the number of other intellectual property obtained by indigenous SMEs each year since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4240/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Patents Office is the national intellectual property office, under the auspices of my Department, that is responsible for the administration of intellectual property (IP) rights in Ireland. Its statutory functions are concerned with the granting of patents, the registration of trademarks and designs and the administration and maintenance of these IP rights.

There is no registration procedure for copyright works under Irish copyright law. Copyright protection is automatic and arises upon the creation of an original work. As copyright is not a registrable right, the Office has no function or role in relation to individuals or companies seeking to obtain copyright protection for software.

While a total of 1,266 patents have been granted since 2011, it is not possible to distinguish indigenous SMEs from other applicants on any of the IP registers maintained by the Patents Office as this information is not kept or recorded by the Office.

You should also be aware that SMEs can apply for patent protection to the European Patent Office; for trademark and industrial design protection to the European Union Intellectual Property Office and patent, trademark and industrial design protection to World Intellectual Property Organisation but none of these organizations would record the level of detail you seek.