Palantir Technologies Patent Application Trends in 2024

Pine IP
October 8, 2024

Palantir Technologies is a global software company that delivers data analytics and AI solutions across various sectors, including government, business, and healthcare. Known for its expertise in big data analytics, predictive modeling, and information integration platforms, Palantir plays a significant role in the tech landscape. Its main products—Palantir Foundry, Palantir Gotham, and Palantir Apollo—enable users to visualize and efficiently leverage complex data. To better understand Palantir’s technological edge and strategy, we analyzed its patent filing data. After filtering for duplicates, we reviewed a total of 2,229 patent filings under the keywords "Palantir" and "Technologies" (as of October 7, 2024).

Patent Filing Trends by Year

2006-2010: Palantir’s patent activities began modestly in 2006, with one patent, growing to nine in 2007 and 11 in 2008. There was a sharp rise to 24 filings in 2009, then a decrease to six in 2010, reflecting an early development stage where patent activities were limited.

2011-2015: In 2011 and 2012, Palantir filed 17 patents each year, followed by a large jump to 58 in 2013. Filings continued to climb, reaching 119 in 2014 and 122 in 2015, marking a period of intensified patent activity.

2016-2019: During this period, Palantir’s filings surged, with 210 patents in 2016, 245 in 2017, 266 in 2018, and 304 in 2019. This reflects a phase of substantial technological innovation.

2020-2024: Filings decreased to 217 in 2020 and 169 in 2021, followed by a rebound to 213 in 2022, indicating strategic adjustments in patent activity.

Patent Filing Distribution by Country

United States (US): Approximately 78.5% of Palantir’s patents were filed in the US, highlighting its focus on the American market and its commitment to leveraging the US patent system.

Europe (EP): About 21% of filings were through the European Patent Office, underscoring Palantir’s intent to protect and expand its business in Europe.

International (WO): Roughly 1% of patents were filed under the international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), reflecting Palantir’s primary focus on the US and Europe, with limited activity elsewhere.

Major IPC Classifications

  • G06F-017/30 (218 patents): Pertains to large-scale data processing and file management technologies, integral to Palantir’s data management platforms.
  • H04L-029/06 (81 patents): Focuses on network security protocols, essential for securing sensitive data.
  • G06F-016/00 (56 patents): Relates to large-scale information storage and retrieval systems, crucial for Palantir’s data search and analysis solutions.
  • G06F-021/62 (50 patents): Centers on cybersecurity and data protection, a core focus for customers handling sensitive data.

These classifications highlight Palantir’s commitment to big data management, network security, data integration, and cybersecurity, aligning with its mission to enable clients to process and protect vast data stores effectively.

Key IPC Filings in the Last Three Years (2022-2024)

  • G06F-016/23 (20 patents): Covers database management and search systems, underscoring Palantir’s dedication to efficient data management.
  • H04L-009/40 (20 patents): Encompasses technologies for secure network communication, crucial for clients managing confidential data.
  • G06F-016/21 (15 patents): Addresses data integration and management systems, supporting Palantir’s solutions for consolidated data analysis.
  • G06F-021/62 (12 patents): Focuses on data protection technologies, reinforcing Palantir’s security-centric technology strategy.
  • G06F-016/248 (12 patents): Related to information storage and retrieval, key to Palantir’s data processing platform.

In recent years, Palantir has concentrated on data management, data integration, network security, and cybersecurity, aligning with its strategy to prioritize data security and communication protection.

Topic Classification Using LDA (Latent Dirichlet Allocation)

Palantir’s technological focus is evident in its top five patent classifications:

  • Ontology-Based Data Management (370 patents): Palantir emphasizes managing and analyzing diverse data through ontology-based systems, crucial for integrating and processing complex datasets.
  • Search Engines and Data Repositories (166 patents): Palantir’s platforms centralize data from multiple sources, enabling clients to search and analyze extensive datasets efficiently.
  • Data Management and Object-Oriented Databases (165 patents): Palantir employs object-oriented databases to handle complex data structures, facilitating the management of structured and unstructured data.
  • Graphical Configuration Systems (140 patents): These systems support user-friendly configuration, helping non-expert users navigate Palantir’s complex analytics platforms.
  • Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) (119 patents): Palantir focuses on creating intuitive interfaces, allowing end users to visualize and analyze data effectively.

Through this analysis, it’s clear that Palantir’s strategic emphasis lies in large-scale data management, integration, and a user-friendly interface design. This aligns with its goal to provide powerful yet accessible data solutions for diverse industries, reinforcing its position as a leader in data analytics and visualization.

6. Conclusion

Palantir Technologies has established a stronghold in key technology areas such as large-scale data processing, network security, data integration, and cybersecurity. Its ongoing innovations aim to enhance usability, security, and efficiency, strengthening Palantir’s global competitiveness.