2025 International IP Index

The U.S. Chamber’s International IP Index (IP Index) creates a roadmap for economies seeking to strengthen the ecosystem for innovation and creativity through more effective intellectual property (IP) standards. 

The 13th IP Index evaluates intellectual property systems across the world's top 55 economies using 53 unique criteria. The data shows economies how to improve IP-driven innovation and creativity and reveals trends in global IP protection.  

The IP Index also serves as a guide to world leaders on proven methods to champion innovation and creativity at home. With this data, they can see what's working, what's not, and what changes are needed to ensure a brighter future. 

Top Scores and Rankings

Top 5 Findings for 2025

The overall score improved in 33 economies

The overall score improved in 33 economies, illustrating an increasing recognition of the value of IP protection worldwide.

• Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait earned the largest improvements in overall score at 17.55%, 11.22%, and 8.87%, respectively, building upon momentum in recent years to strengthen IP protection across the Middle East.
• Twenty economies’ scores remained unchanged, while the overall Index score dropped marginally in only two economies.
• There was little movement among the top 10 economies, with the U.S., UK, some EU Member States, Japan, and Korea leading the rankings again in 2025.

IP supports economies’ competitive advantage

IP supports economies’ competitive advantage in innovation and creativity. The markets that seek to lead the world in ground-breaking medical innovation, critical technologies, and creative content must continue to invest in strengthening their IP ecosystem.

• In the United States, ongoing drug price negotiations, continued uncertainty around patentability, and march-in rights proposals weaken the framework for American life sciences innovation.
• In the EU, the General Pharmaceutical Legislation would reduce regulatory data protection and weaken existing IP incentives, in turn undermining investment in innovation and exacerbating the existing trend of investment leaving Europe.
• Continued innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence has the potential to empower creative and innovative processes. Developing these tools responsibly and ethically while also ensuring full respect for IP protection is essential. Evolving artificial intelligence policies must be evaluated in light of these principles.

Economies took steps to better combat IP-infringing content

Across Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, economies took steps to better combat IP-infringing content online.

• In Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, the courts, law enforcement, and the Government disabled access to websites hosting copyright infringing content.
• In Kuwait, the government gave rightsholders the ability to request the disabling of access to sites hosting IP infringing content. In the UAE, the government introduced a new system of administrative injunctive-style relief that aims to disable access to all IP infringing content.
• In the Philippines, the government introduced a voluntary program for participating ISPs to disable access to copyright-infringing content. 

IP can enhance trade relations between global economies

In the 30 years since the World Trade Organization’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement entered into force, the increase in IP registration, IP-related trade, and technology transfer illustrates how IP can enhance trade relations between global economies.

• Following the TRIPS Agreement, the rates of IP registration improved the most dramatically in regions that have historically had more underdeveloped IP systems, with a 450% increase in trademark filings in Africa between 1993 and 2023.
• The global volume of trade in IP assets increased over 17 times to $446 billion between 1990 and 2022.
• The proportion of overall trade in IP assets and technology transfer from high-income to low- and middle-income economies increased threefold from 1990 to 2023.

Enforcement is essential

The enforcement of outstanding trade-related IP commitments is essential for economies aiming to strengthen trade and global competitiveness through more effective IP.

• Mexico has yet to implement the biopharmaceutical-related commitments of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), including provisions related to patent enforcement, timely marketing authorization, patent term restoration, and regulatory data protection.
• Canada has yet to establish a comprehensive patent term adjustment mechanism as required by USMCA.
• Full implementation of the IP provisions of China’s Phase One Agreement with the United States will be key to mitigating trade irritants and enhancing the ecosystem for both foreign and domestic innovation and creativity in China.

Notable Developments by Category

Patents: In a step backwards for IP protection in Colombia, the Government granted a compulsory license for an HIV/AIDS treatment.

Copyrights: In Mexico, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of USMCA copyright-related provisions.

Trademarks: The UAE enacted a new anti-counterfeiting law to strengthen action against counterfeit goods.

Design Rights: Saudi Arabia increased the term of protection for design rights from ten years to 15 years.

Trade Secrets: The EU is currently considering legislation that reduces the term of regulatory data protection (RDP) and conditions extensions of RDP term on external factors, such as market access, which would weaken the framework for innovation in the EU.

IP Commercialization: The UK introduced changes to British tax law on the incentives for the creation of IP assets that include a new tax regime for R&D-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Enforcement: In Saudi Arabia, the government strengthened criminal enforcement of IP rights through the establishment of a dedicated prosecution office for IP offences.

Systemic Efficiency: In the Dominican Republic, the government increased the number of IP infringement investigations and seized and destroyed 10 million units of counterfeit and/or illicit tobacco, medicines, alcohol, and other goods.

Incentives for Cutting-Edge Innovation: While EU economies lead the Index rankings in this category, the EU is currently considering proposals that would restrict or reduce the current term and scope of protection for orphan products that, if implemented, would result in a reduction in their score.

Membership and Ratification of International Treaties: The Pakistan Intellectual Property Office is considering joining the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and hosted a PCT training program for local patent examiners in anticipation of Pakistan’s potential accession.

For a full analysis and detailed scores, download the full report below.