关键词: 埃克森美孚, 石油公司, 专利维持, 授权专利, 有效专利

Abstract: Based on the legal data of patents, this paper analyzes authorization and validation of patents by ExxonMobil in recent years including the technological distribution and surviving life of valid patents as well as the annual patent maintenance fee, thus obtaining the basic characteristics of maintaining the patents by the company. ExxonMobil’s average rate of valid patents has reached 70 percent in the United States, with an annual cost of more than 100 million yuan for its patents worldwide. It maintains its patents at a high level. ExxonMobil implements different policies for maintenance of it patents in different technological fields. The upstream rate of patents maintained is higher than the rates in the downstream and chemical sectors. As for maintenance of patents by the Chinese oil enterprises, this paper proposes a series of measures, such as setting a clear target, submitting applications as required, examining the patents periodically, establishing the outdating system and the patent business conceptions, and enhancing business management, in order to turn the “costoriented” pattern into the “profit-oriented” pattern.

Key words: ExxonMobil, oil companies, maintenance of patents, authorization of patents, validation of patents