Noted for its international products and innovation, electronics giant Philips is also a pioneer in patent protection in China, ranking third among foreign companies for its more than 1,600 filings last year alone.

Such large numbers don't surprise industry insiders, as they reflect a worldwide trend - what Ruud Peters, company vice-president and CEO of Philips Intellectual Property and Standards, calls "global patent warming".

In fact overheated patent activity threatens to overwhelm the entire system, he said.