10 Companies with Most Discoveries

8. Seiko Epson Corporation

2011 Patent Grants: 1,533
Profits: -$211.8
Sales: $10.5 Billion
Value: 1,596th Largest In World

The manufacturer of printers and other consumer electronics devices, including LCD televisions and personal computers Seiko is known as Epson by most Americans. Last year, the U.S. Patent Office granted the company more than 1,500 patents. One of Epson’s primary businesses was inkjet printers, which have been turned nearly obsolete by laser printers and a lower demand for printing in general due to cloud computing. Over the past five years, the company has ramped up its R&D department, generating approximately 100 more patents each consecutive year than the previous one. At the same time, the company shares have plummeted nearly 70 percent. In recent times the company lost $211 million.

7. Sony

2011 Patent Grants: 2,286
Profits: -$436.6 Million
Sales: $77.2 Billion
Value: 456th Largest In the World

Sony is one of the largest and most recognizable consumer electronics companies in the world. It is also one of the most struggling major companies in the world. Sony has steadily increased its patent portfolio, producing 805 more patents in 2011 than in 2007. Last year, the company lost $436 million. Over the past five years, company shares have lost more than three-quarters of their value. The company continues to struggle in its competition with rivals Apple and Samsung, both of which turned major profits last year.