The Centre has announced a three-year waiver on all intellectual property (IP) registration fees related to the sports sector, covering trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs, traditional knowledge and geographical indications.
The decision, effective immediately, is aimed at promoting innovation across the sports ecosystem and encouraging wider participation in IP creation and protection.
Support measures and implementation
“The waiver will apply across all categories of IP registrations related to sports,” said Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Minister, Piyush Goyal, adding that a formal notification would be issued to operationalise the decision.
In addition to the fee exemption, the government will provide facilitation support under existing schemes to assist innovators, students, artisans and other stakeholders in filing and securing IP rights.
Focus on indigenous products and clusters
The Minister highlighted the importance of the Kashmir willow cricket bat as a symbol of India’s craftsmanship and IP strength, noting that it is among the few sports-related products to have received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
He called for the development of sports manufacturing clusters in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir and Meerut to strengthen the domestic sports goods industry.
Push for domestic manufacturing and IP creation
The government is seeking to boost domestic production of sports goods, including bats, balls, hockey equipment, training aids and gym equipment, to enhance local value chains.
The Minister also urged innovators and stakeholders to convert ideas into IP assets and secure registrations early, leveraging available government support mechanisms.
Highlighting the economic potential of sports, he noted the significant growth in valuation of franchise-based cricket teams over the past 18 years, reflecting the transformational journey of sports driven by innovation and commercialisation, particularly in tournaments such as the Indian Premier League.