70% of the top 10 companies issued patents were non-American companies.  “In 1999, for example, only three of the top 10 companies getting patents in the U.S. were American firms: IBM, Motorola, and Lucent Technologies. By contrast, Asian companies dominated the list: NEC, Canon, Samsung, SONY, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and Mitsubishi.” (Larry Maloney, “Inventor's tips online,” Design News, May 1, 2000)

23,579.  Number of patents issued California residents in 2006.  California residents were issued 23,579 patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2006 making it the number one ranked State in the nation for patents issued.  The state's total was more than three and half times that of second-ranked Texas residents with 6,345 issued patents, and third-ranked New York with 6,075 issued patents.  California residents filed 46,592 patent applications in 2006.  (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Performance and Accountability Report: Fiscal Year 2006, pp. 128, 129)

20,854.  Number of patents issued to California inventors and corporations in 2001.  “Yet Washington lags far behind California, the nation's most populated and patent-happy state. The Golden State tallied 20,854 patents, almost tripling second-place New York at 7,180.” (Doug Cooley, “A bent to invent,” Puget Sound Business Journal, July 26, 2002)

1 independent inventor per 10,000 residents (Oregon).  Number of inventors per capita in the State of Oregon.  “Oregon had one independent inventor for every 10,000 residents in 1996, ranking No. 8 nationwide in inventors per capita, according to federal patent and census data.” (No author, “Oregon Ranks No. 8 In Nation In Inventors,” The Columbian, January 9, 1998)