Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced a three-year waiver on fees for all intellectual property (IP) registrations related to sports. This move aims to boost innovation and strengthen India’s sports ecosystem. The fee exemption covers various categories of IP, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs, traditional knowledge, and geographical indications, and is effective immediately.
Goyal stated that this initiative is part of a special drive to encourage innovators, students, artisans, and stakeholders to actively engage in the IP ecosystem. In addition to the fee waiver, the government will offer facilitation support under existing schemes to simplify the process of filing and securing IP rights. The minister emphasized the importance of converting ideas into IP assets early on to secure ownership and unlock value, highlighting the growing significance of intellectual property in sports.
During the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations in the national capital, themed “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!”, Goyal urged stakeholders to embrace the vision of “innovate, patent, produce, and prosper” as a means for economic growth. He also recognized the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team for their historic performance, including a significant victory after 67 years and a notable win against Karnataka. Goyal praised the team’s achievement as a testament to the region’s growing sporting potential and an inspiration for young athletes.
The minister highlighted the Kashmir willow cricket bat as a symbol of India’s craftsmanship and IP strength, noting its Geographical Indication (GI) tag. He stressed the importance of promoting its manufacturing in Jammu and Kashmir to enhance its global presence. Goyal called for the establishment of sports manufacturing clusters in regions like Jammu and Kashmir and Meerut, emphasizing the need to boost domestic manufacturing of sports equipment such as bats, balls, hockey gear, and training aids to strengthen local value chains.
