The Policy Shift: What Just Happened?

In early July 2025, sweeping new legislation—nicknamed the “Big Beautiful Bill”—was signed into law. While the bill includes provisions for infrastructure, AI, and traditional energy expansion, it quietly eliminated or scaled back several green energy incentives that many innovators relied on:

  • Reduced or eliminated federal tax credits for renewable energy hardware (e.g., solar panels, biofuel systems, battery storage)
  • Narrowed eligibility for Department of Energy grants related to sustainable technology
  • Increased scrutiny and slower approval pipelines for green tech procurement contracts
  • Reallocated federal R&D budgets toward AI-enabled energy systems and traditional energy infrastructure

Why This Matters for IP Holders

If your company is innovating in:

  • Renewable energy systems
  • Green agriculture or water conservation
  • Biodegradable materials or waste-to-energy processes

…you are likely at an inflection point—one where your IP strategy needs to be reassessed immediately.

3 Strategic IP Impacts You Should Not Ignore

1. Filing Delays May Cost You Funding and First-Mover Advantage Fewer public dollars means more private competition. If your IP is still in development or unpublished, you may lose out on licensing deals, VC partnerships, or first-mover advantage.

What to do now: Accelerate filings, convert provisionals, and solidify your core patent claims before incentives shift further.

2. Unfiled Innovations Are Now Vulnerable Many companies were holding off on filing IP, waiting for commercialization or better funding conditions. That window is now smaller, and unfiled IP could be scooped up or made obsolete by fast-moving competitors.

What to do now: Conduct an IP audit to surface unfiled inventions or trade secrets at risk of exposure.

3. Your Brand May Be at Risk in New Markets As funding shifts globally, you may be pivoting into new markets—especially overseas. If your trademarks or patents aren’t registered there, your growth strategy may be vulnerable.

What to do now: Review your trademark and international patent strategy to cover key expansion geographies.

How I Can Help

As “The Green Patent Guy,” I’ve helped green tech companies protect and position their intellectual property for more than two decades. My team and I specialize in:

  • IP audits and strategy realignment for changing regulatory climates
  • Accelerated patent filings—often cutting time-to-patent in half
  • International filing plans tied to your growth markets
  • Portfolio licensing and valuation to unlock revenue when funding narrows

Complimentary 20-Minute IP Briefing

To help clients adjust to the new landscape, I’m offering a complimentary 20-minute IP briefing session (available through July 31) to review your current IP protection in light of the recent legislative changes.

Book a time here: https://go.oncehub.com/IPAttorney

If you’re not sure how this bill affects you, you’re not alone. Let’s talk through it and make sure your IP is positioned to support—not slow down—your growth.