Govt rolls out scheme to make IPRs easy for startups

Start-ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) to help startups in facilitating protection of patents, trademark and designs

The Government of India has launched a scheme for facilitating Start-ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) to promote awareness and encourage IPR protection among startups. The scheme, which is part of recently-launched Start-Up India by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is to protect and promote intellectual property rights (IPR) for startups and encourage innovation and creativity among them.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) said that the scheme will initially run on a pilot basis.  The SIPP is envisaged to facilitate protection of patents, trademark and designs of innovative and interested startups.

IPRs are emerging as a strategic business tool for any business organisation to enhance industrial competitiveness. Startups, with limited resources and manpower can sustain in this highly competitive world only through continuous growth and development oriented innovations, for this, it is equally crucial that start-ups protect their IPRs.

The scheme aims to promote awareness and adoption of IPRs amongst startups. It is also inclined to nurture and mentor innovative and emerging technologies among startups and assist them in protecting and commercialising it by providing them access to IP service and resources.

Any startups certified by the Start-Up Certification Board as having an innovative business can apply for the scheme. It was defined startups means an entity, incorporated or registered in India no prior to five years, with annual turnover not exceeding Rs 25 crore in any preceding financial years, working towards innovation, development, deployment or commercialisation new products, processes or services driven by technology or IP, provided that such entity is not formed by splitting up or reconstruction of a business already in existence.

It was decided to appoint facilitators to implement the scheme effectively. These facilitators will be empanelled by the Controller General of Patent, Trademark and Design (CGPDTM). The CGPDTM shall regulate conduct and functions of empanelled facilitators from time to time.

The facilitators will provide general advisory in different IPRs to startups on pro bono basis, they would provide information on protecting and promoting IPRs to startups in other countries, provide assistance in filing and disposal of the IP applications related to patents, trademarks and design under relevant Acts as the national IP offices under the CGPDTM.

They would also drafting complete or provisional specifications for inventions of start-ups and other functions they would do.

The facilitator would not charge anything from the startup or the entrepreneur, and the feels will be paid directly by the Central Government through the office of the CGPDTM.

The fees would range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000.

The scheme will run initially on a pilot basis and shall be applicable for a period of one year from the date of launch of Start-up India. The budget for the scheme shall be provided from the funds available with the department.