MERH-IP

Shares cover only observed cross-border relationships with identifiable firms on both sides, not all foreign filing work. Missing or unlinked representatives are outside this denominator.

Outbound share = outbound ÷ (outbound + inbound) × 100. Inbound share = inbound ÷ (outbound + inbound) × 100. Rounded shares add to 100%; no observations is N/A.

These are filing-based associations, not confirmed instructions or work returned by a partner. Counts and direction can contain gaps or errors.

Smaller / larger direction = smaller flow ÷ larger flow × 100. One-way exchange is 0%; no activity is N/A. It describes observed balance, not who chose the partner.

Each patent family is counted once per firm, filing office and year. Counts are added across the selected years, so the same family can be counted again in another office or year. The total counts each family once within a firm, office and year, even if it appears in both directions. Outbound plus inbound can exceed the total. These are not application counts.

These relationship metrics cover observed cross-border filings with identifiable representatives on both sides in the served sources. IP5 support does not mean every filing or representative is captured.

US representative evidence is limited to granted documents in the source; pre-grant filings without that evidence are absent from counsel relationships. This is a counsel-evidence limit, not a cutoff for corridor filing volume.

No observed relationship is not proof that the firms have never worked together. Missing representative evidence and unlinked identities can leave gaps.