Whereas both Samsung and IBM are neck and neck in terms of their patent filings, IBM is clearly leading when the grant rate is the factor. This is evident from the fact that Samsung has filed more applications in total but IBM has more granted patents in their kitty.
Also, Samsung’s grant rate is less than the average grant index of GAUs (Art Units) where it files patents. IBM, on the other hand, has a higher grant rate than the average grant rate of the GAUs where it files patent applications.
| Companies | Total Applications | Granted Patents | Grant Rate | Average Grant rate of GAUs |
| Samsung | 163804 | 110215 | 75.33% | 80.07% |
| IBM | 161755 | 127104 | 85.81% | 80.29% |
The tables below share the allowance rate of the top art units where IBM and Samsung file patent applications. IBM and Samsung have only one common art unit, 2818, where IBM has a better grant rate.
Samsung
| Art Unit | Technology | Allowance Rate |
| 2871 | Optics:Liquid Crystal Cells, Elements and systems | 79.09% |
| 2629 | Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual display systems | 57.76% |
| 2818 | Semiconductors/Memory | 90.92% |
| 2824 | Semiconductors/Memory | 93.34% |
| 2627 | Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval | 68.27% |
| 2879 | Optics: Electric lamp and discharge devices | 77.17% |
| 2617 | Telecommunications, Multiplex Communication | 57.59% |
| 2852 | Printing/Measuring and Testing | 84.08% |
| 2827 | Semiconductors/Memory | 94.13% |
| 2872 | Optical: Systems and elements | 80.59% |
IBM
| Art Unit | Technology | Allowance Rate |
| 2113 | Computer Error Control, Reliability, & Control Systems | 92.83% |
| 2825 | Semiconductors/Memory | 89.89% |
| 2114 | Computer Error Control, Reliability, & Control Systems | 91.86% |
| 2183 | Computer Architecture and I/O | 85.92% |
| 2191 | Interprocess Communication and Software Development | 87.72% |
| 2818 | Semiconductors/Memory | 94.25% |
| 2192 | Interprocess Communication and Software Development | 86.15% |
| 2193 | Interprocess Communication and Software Development | 84.24% |
| 2851 | Printing/Measuring and Testing | 95.32% |
| 2122 | AI & Simulation/ Modeling | 90.43% |