Live Updates > Live Update Details
2025-07-29 03:40:26
Officials at the U.S. Department of Commerce are discussing a new patent fee mechanism that would charge patent holders 1% to 5% of the total value of their patents, an idea that Commerce Secretary Lutnick is considering, according to people familiar with the matter. The new mechanism would be a major change to the 235-year-old practice of patent applications, and for some patent holders, the new fees would significantly increase costs, acting like a property tax. It is unclear whether the new fees would replace existing fixed fees or be added to them. Officials at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is part of the Commerce Department, are circulating draft proposals and financial models. Analysts estimate that all U.S. patents are worth trillions of dollars, and companies like Samsung and Apple receive thousands of patents each year. People familiar with the matter said the Commerce Department is discussing using the extra revenue to pay down deficits or for other purposes.
