Commerce Department and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Exploring a Patent Tax and Patent Fee Changes

By Holly Fechner, Matthew Shapanka & Samuel Klein on September 30, 2025

Posted in Intellectual Property Protection, Patent, Policy and Legislation, United States

The Trump Administration is considering multiple proposals to raise revenue from patent holders, including direct assessments on patent holders, changes to the existing patent fee schedule, and potentially a new mechanism for sharing profits from university-owned patents obtained through federal research funds.

Patent Tax

First, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is…

Adequacy Decision for the European Patent Organisation

By Kristof Van Quathem & Matsumoto Ryoko on July 28, 2025

Posted in Patent

On 15 July 2025, the European Commission adopted an adequacy decision for the European Patent Organisation (EPO). This marks the first time such a decision has been granted to an international organisation. From now on, personal data can be transferred from the EU to the EPO based on this decision, without the need for additional safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).Continue Reading Adequacy Decision for the European Patent Organisation