Govt increases fee for facilitators to help start-ups apply for IP

Subject : Economy

Section : Policy

Concept :

The government has increased the fee payable to empanelled facilitators who help start-ups apply for patents, trademarks or designs.
The facilitator shall not charge anything from the start-up or the entrepreneur, and this fee shall be paid directly to the facilitator by the Centre through the office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM).
The financial assistance of IP facilitators or IP Mitra remunerations have increased 4X times according to CGPDTM.

IP Mitra

It is a concept introduced by Office of CGPDTM for Startups in patents, trademarks, and designs under the Scheme for Facilitating Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) wherein IP Mitra can help the intended entrepreneurs in a variety of ways.
They can provide assistance in filing, support & facilitate in processing of IP applications along with expert advice on various legal aspects of Intellectual Property.
IP Mitra can help to broaden one’s IP portfolio and enable stakeholders for new ventures in IP world through their experiences and skills.
SIPP scheme has been extended for a further period of three years to increase its effectiveness in the light of the knowledge gathered from its initial deployment.
The structure of reimbursement to IP Mitra for facilitation of startups has also been revised in extended SIPP scheme.

Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP)

To protect and promote Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Startups and to encourage innovation and creativity among them, Government of India had launched a Scheme for facilitating Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) in 2016.
The scheme facilitated startups in filing and processing of their patent, design or trademark application through the assistance of IP Facilitators, whose fee was borne by the Office of the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India.
After its successful implementation resulting in a significant increase in IP fillings by Startups the Scheme was extended for a period of three years till 31st March 2023.