Simplified IPR Registration Process & Filling Fees Reduction to help Indian MSMEs: Piyush Goyal

After reviewing the operation of the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks in Mumbai on 1st August, Piyush Goyal, the Union Commerce and Industry Minister , said: "The ‘ease of doing business’ will go a long way in advancing India as an innovation hub."

Besides reveiwing their functioning, Goyal also deliberated on ways to build a strengthened Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) infrastructure.

Emphasizing the government's commitment to augment the ecosystem of patents, design, trademarks, GI (Geographical Indication) systems, Goyal said, “The pendency in the IPR department has come down drastically. It has also been decided that any pending application should be completed within days and not months.”

Among other things, also, to help and support startups and women entrepreneurs in the country, the Minister noted that the filing fees for startups, MSMEs and women entrepreneurs -allowed by the department- have been reduced by 80 percent; mentioning about the reduction in filing fees, he also emphasised on using digital means and making the application process more user friendly.

Goyal asked authorities to endeavor more to increase awareness about GI tag and its significance, while asked to consider instituting scholarships for students studying the Intellectual Property law. He also asked to engage faculty from renowned institutions on a part time basis to help in the patent examination process.

In last 5-6 years, India has seen a rapid increase in grant of patents and copyrights. The number of patents granted has gone up from 6,326 in 2015-16 to 28,391 in 2020-21, while trade marks registration has shot up from 65,045 in 2015-16 to 2,55,993 in 2020-21. Similarly, while 4,505 Copyrights were granted in 2015-16, a total of 16,402 were granted last fiscal.

India has climbed 33 notches from 81st position in 2015-16 to 48th in 2020 in the Global Innovation Index.