Law360, New York (June 25, 2015, 11:02 AM EDT) -- For all of the optimism in recent years regarding worldwide innovation and advancements in technology across all industries, would it surprise you to learn that total global patent volume increased by a meager 3 percent in 2014? Or that this 3 percent growth rate represents the worst patent volume growth rate since 2009, one year removed from the worst global recession since the Great Depression? Stunted growth in patent volume in 2014 did not confine itself to one specific industry, as many traditional innovators, such as semiconductors, aerospace and defense, struggled to produce new patents. In fact, in 2014 semiconductors and aerospace and defense saw their patent volume plummet by 5 percent and 1 percent, respectively....