Overview

Mika Ito has deep and specific experience in patent prosecutions of U.S. and foreign patent applications for emerging technologies including semiconductor technology (circuitry and fabrication), online entertainment (including use of artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, audio and video signal processing, and distributed ledger systems), interactive user interface applications (including use of augmented/virtual reality, speech technology, and tactile inputs), automotive electronics (GPS and telematics), and health and medical applications (including non-invasive diagnosis and treatment techniques, remote monitoring systems), among others. Mika also analyzes patent portfolios for competitive coverage and litigation risk.

Mika also advises clients on open-source licensing matters. Using her experience as a software engineer, she provides legal training about open-source licenses to software engineers.

Earlier in her career, she was an intellectual property engineer with Alpine Electronics of America, Inc.; a patent scientist; a software engineer at Sony Corp.; and a speech linguist at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Education

University of Washington School of Law, J.D., IP Concentration Track, 2020; John Applegate Endowed Scholarship

University of Edinburgh, Ph.D., Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, 2006

University of Tokyo, B. Engineering, Electrical Engineering, 1992

Admissions

Washington

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Languages

  • Japanese

Experience

  • Drafted patent applications, performed prior art searches, and handled patent prosecution of patent applications.
  • Conducted freedom-to-operate analysis of products, including non-infringement and invalidity of patents, and drafted opinions.
  • Conducted document reviews in patent litigation matters related to electrical and software technologies.
  • Provided presentations on intellectual property issues around artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Insights

Insights & Presentations

  • “Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art in the Artificial Intelligence Era” (co-author), Patent, Vol. 77, No. 8, pp. 53–63, Japan Patent Attorneys Association, July 2024)

  • “BlackBerry revisited: A comparison of extraterritorial infringement analyses,” Patent, Vol. 76, No. 14, pp. 58–68, Japan Patent Attorneys Association, December 2023
  • “Blockchain Technology - US Patent Strategy,” Japan Intellectual Property Association Kansai Branch Webinar, September 16, 2022
  • “Artificial Intelligence and Inventorship -Developer and Practitioner’s Perspective-,” Osaka University IP Seminar, February 26, 2022
  • “AI-related Invention Patentability and Disclosure Standards Across the U.S. and Europe” (with Prof. Toshiko Takenaka), International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) of Japan, June 23, 2021
  • “Open-Source Software License,” Media Contents Special Seminar, University of Tokyo, July 2, 2021
  • “Comparison of Patentability Standards of AI Related Inventions across Jurisdictions: the Role of Patentability Requirements” (co-author), Patent, Special Volume, Vol. 74, Issue 26, pp.85–107, Japan Patent Attorneys Association, 2021
  • “Drafting US Patent Application for AI Invention” (with Prof. Toshiko Takenaka), Japan Intellectual Property Association, December 9, 2019
  • “Geographical Indication in Japan (Part 1),” Patents & Licensing Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 22–29, 2019
  • “Geographical Indication in Japan (Part 2),” Patents & Licensing Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 7–16, 2019

Recognition

  • Included in Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch in America (Intellectual Property Law), 2024–present

Affiliations

Professional

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member

  • Washington State Intellectual Property Law Association, Member

Industries

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