Abstract: There is a great practical significance to study the difference and coordination of regional innovation ability in promoting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Intellectual property resources are the foundation of innovation and development, and the regional distribution of intellectual property resources is closely related to economic development. This paper constructs an evaluation index system for the level of intellectual property development. Then based on the exploratory spatial data analysis, quadrant method and coupling and coordinating degree, the spatial pattern and evolution of intellectual property development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt are analyzed and its coupling relationship with the economic development is also compared. The results show as follows: in recent years, the level of intellectual property development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt has developed rapidly with obvious spatial agglomeration, and the level of intellectual property development is higher in the eastern region, but lower in the western region. Among the three major urban agglomerations in the area, the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration located in the east is the region with a good development of intellectual property resources and the development of the cities there are relatively balanced. In general, there is a good coupling relationship between intellectual property resources and economic development. However, in the cities with higher levels of economic development, intellectual property resources in most cities still lag behind economic development. Therefore, innovation drive has still become a key factor restricting the economic development. We try to divide the cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt into different classifications, and for the cities in different types, the relationships between intellectual property resources and economic development show different characteristics, and so there should be some appropriate policies to promote the cities’ coordinated development. And based on the research, we hope to provide some references and help for promoting the further development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.