Announcements:

Meet Our New Intern – Lydia Yang Joins Lin IP Law!

5/1/2025

We are excited to welcome Lydia Yang to the team as our new Intern at Lin IP Law.

At Lin IP Law, Lydia focuses on trademark prosecution, brand enforcement, and copyright protection. She combines deep analytical thinking with creative problem-solving to offer clients a clear, strategic path forward. Her strengths in legal research, IP risk assessment, and long-term planning make her a valuable partner for businesses navigating the complexities of intellectual property law. Lydia’s ability to distill complex legal frameworks into actionable guidance—while staying ahead of emerging trends—ensures clients are not only protected, but positioned to thrive. She particularly enjoys working with entrepreneurs and forward-thinking companies to help them leverage their IP as a driver of growth and innovation.

Admitted to the Washington State Bar and holding an LL.M. from UC Berkeley, Lydia is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese. Outside of work, she enjoys playing the cello and piano, traveling, and discovering new sounds in jazz and eclectic music.

We’re thrilled to have her on board and look forward to the energy, care, and insight she brings to the firm and our clients.

Blogs:

How to keep track of IP maintenance fees

Gain practical tips—from using USPTO tools and docketing software to outsourcing IP management—to help inventors and businesses stay organized and safeguard their intellectual property assets. Stay ahead of deadlines and protect years of innovation with the right maintenance strategy.

[Read more] #IPLaw #PatentMaintenance #TrademarkRenewal #InnovationProtection #USPTO

Protecting Your Brand: Trademark Basics for Restaurants, Cafés, and Inns
Small hospitality businesses like restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and bed & breakfasts often overlook one key asset—trademark protection. Learn how securing your business name, logo, and signature items can prevent costly rebranding, stop copycats, and build long-term value.

[Read more] #TrademarkLaw #HospitalityBusiness #BrandProtection #SmallBusinessTips

Who Owns the Songs When the Band Breaks Up?

When bands part ways, music rights can get messy. Who owns the lyrics? The recordings? Can one member upload a song without permission? This guide breaks down the essentials of joint authorship, composition vs. recording rights, and how to protect yourself with clear agreements and registrations. Learn how famous artists like Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney navigated these challenges—and how you can, too.

[Read more] #CopyrightLaw #MusicLaw #JointAuthorship #EntertainmentLaw #CreativeRights #Musicians

The Strategic Value of Pending Patents and Building an IP Portfolio
Pending patents aren’t just placeholders—they’re powerful tools for boosting valuation, attracting investors, and establishing early market advantage. Learn how startups and growing businesses can leverage “patent pending” status to strengthen credibility, create competitive barriers, and unlock new revenue streams.

[Read more] #PatentStrategy #IPPortfolio #StartupSuccess #InvestorPitch #Innovation

Patent Strategy for AI in Digital Therapeutics and Diagnostics
As AI and machine learning become integral to medical technologies, securing strong IP protection for these innovations is essential. This article outlines strategies for drafting patent applications around AI-based therapeutics and diagnostics, with tips on structuring claims, demonstrating technical improvements, and overcoming eligibility challenges.

[Read more] #AIPatents #DigitalTherapeutics #MedTechInnovation #PatentStrategy #MachineLearning

Protecting Your Innovation, Securing Your Future
For growing companies, securing patents isn't just about legal protection—it’s a strategic move to stay competitive and unlock long-term growth. Learn how thoughtful, business-minded patent strategies can help overcome USPTO delays, reduce risk, and ensure your inventions are protected as your products evolve.

[Read more] #PatentStrategy #IPProtection #BusinessGrowth #InnovationLeadership

Newsletters:

Spring 2025 Newsletter: Intellectual Property Updates and Firm Highlights

Welcoming Our New Intern

We are pleased to welcome Lydia to our team as a legal intern this spring. Lydia brings enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to our ongoing intellectual property projects, and we look forward to her contributions.

Trademark Updates

Supporting Clients in the Hospitality, Fashion, Online Retail, and Blogging Industries

Our firm recently assisted multiple clients in hospitality, fashion, online retail, and blogging industries in filing multiple trademark registration applications and securing their registations. These underscore our ongoing commitment to helping brand owners protect their identities in a dynamic market.

Patent Policy Update

Expedited Patent Issuance at the USPTO

Effective May 13, 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is accelerating the Issue Dates for patents. Previously, the time between Issue Notification and Issue Date averaged around three to four weeks. The USPTO is reducing that time to approximately two weeks, allowing patent holders to bring their investments to the market earlier. Click here for more.

While the shortening by about one to two weeks may not seem like much, this accelerated timeline reduces the window for filing continuation applications to further grow the patent portfolio and get more patent coverage for inventions, limits the ability to withdraw patents before issuance, and exposes patents to immediate post-grant challenges. To adapt, companies must proactively plan their continuation strategies, conduct thorough prior art reviews, and coordinate closely with their patent attorneys to avoid missed opportunities and strengthen their competitive position.

Fee increases at the USPTO

Earlier this year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has implemented a global average fee increase of 7.5%, with targeted increases reaching 200% for patents and 300% for trademarks. Second and subsequent Requests for Continued Examination (RCE) fees, excessive claim fees, design patent issue fees, and patent term extension application fees have risen substantially, along with new surcharges for continuing applications and extensive Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) submissions. Trademark applicants also face higher costs for applications, Statements of Use, letters of protest, renewals, Madrid Protocol filings, and new penalties for excessive text and insufficient information. These changes emphasize cost recovery and efficiency, encouraging applicants to be more strategic in filings.

Howard Lutnick Confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Commerce

In February 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick as the 41st Secretary of Commerce. Formerly the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick is recognized for his resilience in rebuilding the firm into a global financial service using technology after the tragic loss of 658 employees—including his brother—during the September 11 attacks. An inventor with over 800 patents and applications worldwide, many of which cover his company’s eSpeed electronic trading platform that was key to its turn-around, he is seen as someone who recognizes the importance of patents and their enforcement in protecting innovation and growing businesses. He has pledged to reduce USPTO backlog and make sure that American inventors are taken care of quickly. One of his patents can be found here.

Now overseeing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) among other agencies, Lutnick is expected to significantly shape U.S. intellectual property policy.