Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) Scheme

Ministry of Commerce and Industry has revised the scheme for facilitating Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) to upgrade the professional charges of the facilitators.

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About Scheme Start-Ups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP), 2016

Aim: To protect and promote the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of Startups and to encourage innovation and creativity among them.
It facilitated start-ups 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.
Scheme was extended for a period of three years till 31st March 2023.
Achievement of Start-Up: There has been a significant increase in IP activities by Startups in the last 6 years such as Patent applications filed by Startups have increased from 179 in 2016-17 to 1500 in 2021-22.
- Trade Mark applications filed by Startups have increased from 4 in 2016-17 to 8649 in 2021-22.
- From 2016-17 to October 2022, 7430 patent applications and 28749 Trademark applications have been filed by Startups.
As on 30 September 2022, Rs 380.81 Lakhs have been disbursed as fees to the facilitators assisting the Startups in IP fillings.

Highlights of the Revised Scheme

Revised scheme is applicable from 02 November 2022.
The IP facilitator charges have increased by almost 50% for patent filing under the Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme.
Revised fees structure vis-à-vis the old scheme is as under:

Stage of Payment		Patents		Trademarks		Designs
FEE (in INR)		2016	2022	2016	2022	2016	2022
At the time of filing of Application		10,000	15,000	2,000	3,000	2,000	3,000
At the time of final disposal of Applications	Without Opposition	10,000	25,000	2,000	5000	2,000	5,000
At the time of final disposal of Applications	With Opposition	15,000	35,000	4,000	10000	4,000	10,000

Fee Rebates: IP filling by startups are also encouraged by providing with fee rebates under respective IP legislations.
- Startups are provided 80% fee rebate in filing patent applications and 50% fee rebate in filling trademark application.
- Provisions for fast-track examination of patent applications.
Significance: The revised fee structure will further augment the filing of IP applications by the Startups through the assistance of IP facilitators offering effective and quality service.

Steps to Promote Start-Up in India

Startup India Initiative:

It was launched in 2016 with the objective of building a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship in the country,
Under Startup India initiative, as on 30th June 2022, a total of 72,993 have been recognized by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme and Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) to provide financial assistance to startups through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and incubators respectively.

Action Plan for Startup India, 2016:

It comprises of 19 action items spanning across areas such as ‘simplification and handholding, ’funding support and incentives and ‘Industry academia partnership and incubation’.
It laid the foundation of Government support, schemes and incentives envisaged to create a vibrant startup ecosystem in the country.

National Startup Advisory Council, 2020:

To advise the Government on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.