Sun Protection and UV Filters Patents: Leaders, Trends & White Space 2026
- Filings have cooled since 2020. 191 records that year against 124 in 2017 and a midpoint of 161 in 2022 — the curve is flat to declining, not a growth story.
- The largest household names have gone quiet. Several major assignees show 0 filings in the latest tracked year, some down -100% year on year, while one mid-sized filer still logs a handful of new families.
- One 1998 formulation patent dominates citations. EP0893119A1 carries 1,199 citations, nearly three times the next most-cited record — a strong signal of foundational influence, not of current freedom to operate.
What the sun protection patent record actually shows
Sun protection filings sit almost entirely inside A61K (medicinal preparations) and A61Q (cosmetic use), with 4,182 and 3,977 of the 4,309 tracked families touching those two subclasses respectively. That overlap is structural: an SPF formulation is claimed simultaneously as a cosmetic composition and as a preparation with a physiological effect, which is why so few filings sit in a single IPC bucket. Smaller but consistent activity in C09C (inorganic pigments and treatment) and C08L (polymer compositions) marks out the dispersion and delivery-vehicle side of the field, distinct from the active-ingredient chemistry claimed under C07C and C07D.
Filing activity peaked in 2020 at 191 records and has not recovered that level since; publication lags filing by roughly 18 months, so the last one or two years in any such trend will always look thinner than they will eventually turn out to be. Even allowing for that lag, the pattern across recent-year momentum data — several of the largest assignees at zero or sharply negative year-on-year filing counts — points to a field where claim space around core SPF actives and delivery formats is largely staked out, and where remaining activity concentrates on specific sub-problems like inorganic filter dispersion and photostability rather than broad new sunscreen chemistries.
Filing trend, IPC composition and where applicants file
4,309 patent families published between 2015 and mid-2026 make up this dataset, drawn from filings that combine sunscreen, UV filter or sun protection formulation language with claim terms like SPF value, photostability, inorganic filter dispersion, water resistance or whitening effect.
A peak year behind us, not ahead
From 124 filings in 2017, volume rose to a peak of 191 in 2020, sat at 161 by the 2022 midpoint, and has continued to soften into the most recent partial year. This is a maturing filing curve rather than an expanding one.
Two subclasses carry nearly the whole field
A61K and A61Q between them cover the large majority of records; the much smaller counts in C09C, C08L, C07C and C07D mark specialist sub-areas — inorganic pigment treatment, polymer delivery systems and specific organic filter chemistries — where filing density is far lower and technical differentiation is easier to establish.
Shares are the percentage of the 4,309 records in scope. A patent can carry several IPC classes, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Go deeper on Sun Protection and UV Filters with Eureka
This page is one run against one query. Ask Eureka your own question about sun protection and uv filters and every answer comes back with the patent numbers behind it.
Try EurekaThe records shaping freedom-to-operate analysis
Gadusol-containing sunscreen formulations (US20230157935A1)
Discloses a sunscreen formulation combining a physical/inorganic active at roughly 5–25% w/w with gadusol, where the gadusol is present at an amount sufficient to produce an SPF booster effect and raise the formulation's overall SPF value beyond what the inorganic active delivers alone.Filed by ARCAEA, LLC; published 2023-05-25.
| # | Publication no. | Patent title | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EP0893119A1 | UV-protection formulation | 1,199 |
| 2 | US4919934A | Cosmetic sticks | 440 |
| 3 | US4847071A | Photoprotection compositions comprising tocopherol sorbate and an anti-inflammatory agent | 346 |
| 4 | US5674912A | Sunscreen-wound healing compositions and methods for preparing and using same | 292 |
| 5 | US5330747A | Cosmetics with enhanced durability | 253 |
| 6 | US6238650B1 | Sunscreen composition containing sol-gel microcapsules | 230 |
| 7 | US5993789A | Photostable sunscreen compositions containing dibenzoylmethane derivative, E.G., parsol TM 1789, and diesters… | 207 |
| 8 | US5652274A | Therapeutic-wound healing compositions and methods for preparing and using same | 196 |
| 9 | US5518713A | Benzoxazole derivatives, the use thereof as sunscreens and cosmetic compositions containing them | 191 |
| 10 | US5730960A | Benzylidenenorcamphor derivatives | 188 |
Citation counts are drawn from within this searched corpus and skew toward older, foundational filings; they indicate influence on later drafting, not present-day enforceability.
Each row carries its publication number; clicking a row searches Eureka by that number.
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Three patterns matter more than any single ranking: where the claim density actually sits, how concentrated ownership is, and what the recency data is masking.
The peak is already behind the field
Volume climbed from 124 in 2017 to 191 in 2020, then eased to 161 by 2022 before continuing to soften. Even correcting for the roughly 18-month publication lag, this reads as a plateaued rather than an accelerating field.
Big names have largely stopped adding families
Several of the largest historical assignees show zero filings in the latest tracked year, with year-on-year declines as steep as -100% for some. One filer still logs a small positive count, making it worth watching for continued activity.
One formulation patent anchors the prior art
EP0893119A1's citation count is nearly triple that of the next most-cited record, meaning most later drafting in this space has had to write around, or build on, a single foundational UV-protection formulation claim.
Filing is US- and Europe-weighted, not China-led
The United States (1,133) and EPO (797) together outpace the WIPO/PCT route (595) and far exceed China (224) or Canada (244), suggesting enforcement strategy in this field still centres on US and European rights rather than a China-first filing pattern.
Eureka can read the same corpus for gaps instead of for coverage: under-claimed branches adjacent to sun protection and uv filters, with the prior art for and against each one.
Who is still filing, and who has stopped
Ownership in sun protection formulation patents is spread across cosmetics majors and specialty chemical suppliers, but recent-year filing counts show most of the largest names pulling back rather than pushing further into new claim territory.
BASF still adds families, but slower
Among the largest historical assignees, BASF is one of the few still recording a filing in the most recent tracked year, though its year-on-year count is down sharply from prior activity.
L'Oréal, Shiseido and Unilever entities show no new families
Several of the field's largest historical filers — including L'Oréal and Shiseido, both down -100% year on year — and multiple Unilever entities register no filings in the latest tracked year, consistent with a field where core formulation space is already claimed.
Unilever's internal entities file jointly, not competitively
The strongest co-assignee relationship in the dataset links two Unilever corporate entities across 110 shared families, with a third Unilever entity co-filing on a further 26 with each — a corporate structuring pattern rather than an alliance between rivals.
| Assignee | Recent year | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| BASF SE | 1 | -67% |
| L'Oréal | 0 | -100% |
| Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. | 0 | — |
| Unilever PLC | 0 | — |
| Shiseido Company, Limited | 0 | -100% |
| Unilever N.V. | 0 | — |
| DSM IP Assets B.V. | 0 | -100% |
| The Procter & Gamble Company | 0 | — |
Where to take this analysis
The dataset points to a field where core chemistry is well-claimed and remaining opportunity sits in specific formulation sub-problems.
Map claim scope on the top-cited records
Before drafting near inorganic filter or SPF-booster claims, check how EP0893119A1 and the other heavily-cited records define their formulation boundaries — that is where later filings have had to differentiate.
Explore citation mapping in EurekaTrack the assignees still filing
With most majors at zero recent filings, a small number of active filers like BASF disproportionately shape where new claim territory opens up next.
Set up assignee monitoring in EurekaTest white space claims against prior art
Under-claimed branches such as polymer delivery vehicles or photostability co-formulants look open on filing counts alone, but need a prior-art check before committing claim language.
Run a white space search in EurekaCommon questions on sun protection and UV filter patents
The recent-year momentum data shows several of the largest historical assignees, including L'Oréal, Shiseido and multiple Unilever entities, at zero filings in the latest tracked year, with some down as much as -100% year on year. This does not mean these companies have exited the field; it more likely reflects that core sunscreen formulation space — the SPF actives, delivery formats and cosmetic-use claims covered by A61K and A61Q — is already densely claimed, so continued R&D is going into trade secrets, reformulation, or narrower claims that take longer to publish. Remember also that publication lags filing by roughly 18 months, so the very latest year in any dataset understates true activity.
Within this dataset, EP0893119A1, titled 'UV-protection formulation', carries 1,199 citations, nearly three times the citation count of the next most-referenced record, US4919934A on cosmetic sticks. A citation count this high signals that later drafters have repeatedly had to reference or design around this filing's formulation claims. High citation count is a marker of historical influence on the prior art landscape, not a guarantee of current enforceability, since older patents may have expired or been narrowed through litigation.
The clearest gaps sit outside the two dominant subclasses, A61K and A61Q, in areas like inorganic filter surface dispersion (C09C, 107 records), polymer-based delivery systems (C08L, 180 records) and photostability-enhancing co-formulants — all far less densely filed than core SPF active claims. A workable first claim in these branches would typically combine a specific inorganic UV filter with a defined dispersion or surface-treatment method, or pair a named photostabiliser with a quantified photostability improvement, rather than claiming a sunscreen composition broadly. Any white space finding should still be checked against the specific prior art in that sub-branch before drafting.
The United States leads with 1,133 filings, followed by the European Patent Office at 797 and the WIPO/PCT route at 595; Australia, Canada and China follow at 411, 244 and 224 respectively. This distribution suggests applicants in this field are prioritising US and European rights protection over a China-first filing strategy, which is worth factoring into any freedom-to-operate or enforcement planning that assumes uniform global coverage.
Not necessarily technology maturity in the sense of being outdated, but it does mean the claim space is occupied. A61K and A61Q together account for 4,182 and 3,977 of the 4,309 tracked families, which means most straightforward combinations of UV-filtering actives, delivery vehicles and cosmetic-use claims have already been staked out by existing patents. New entrants generally need to differentiate through specific formulation details — a particular dispersion method, a photostability mechanism, or a narrow ingredient combination — rather than broad compositional claims.
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. Patsnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.
Machine translation. Assignee and organisation names originally recorded in Chinese, Japanese or Korean have been rendered into English by an AI translation step so that the tables stay readable. These renderings are best-effort and may not match a company’s registered English name; the original name is what the underlying patent record carries, and it is what any Eureka query launched from this page uses.