'A War Of Data'

When former chip designer Nicholas Donofrio, looks at the top 10 producers of patents (below), he has mixed feelings. As IBM Corp.'s senior vice president, technology and manufacturing, he's pleased with IBM's leadership, but disappointed that IBM is one of only two U.S. companies on the list. At the same time his greatest worry is about a higher-level crisis: losing leadership in using and applying technology. "The top challenge goes beyond the 'war' of developing the better chip, sensor or computer. The biggest challenge is a competition of intelligence, in using those tools to fight a war of data." Top 10 Patent Holders '93-'02

1. IBM
2. Cannon
3. NEC
4. Hitachi
5. Toshiba
6. Sony
7. Mitsubishi
8. Matsushita
9. Motorola
10. Samsung