The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on 02nd December 2022, issued a Press Release in regard to a Scheme for Intellectual Property (IP) protection which was revised to upgrade the professional charges for the facilitators. The Press Release headlines that the Patent Applications filed by Startups have increased from 179 in 2016-17 to 1500 in 2021-22, and Trademark Applications filed by Startups have increased from 4 in2016-17 to 8649 in 2021-22.
For the purpose of protecting and promoting the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Startups and for encouraging innovation and creativity, the Government of India launched the Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) Scheme in 2016. The scheme focuses on facilitating startups in filing and processing their patent, design or trademark application through the assistance of IP Facilitators, whose fee is borne by the Office of the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks, the Department of Production of Industry and Internal Trade, under the authorisation of the Government of India. As a result of successful implementation with a significant increase in IP Filings by Startups, the SIPP Scheme was extended for three years till 31st March 2023.