To promote innovation in the area of sports, the government has decided to extend a three-year fee-exemption to all intellectual property (IP) registrations related to sports, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs, traditional knowledge, and geographical indications.
Addressing a World IP Day 2026 event, organised by DPIIT in association with FICCI, Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, on Tuesday, directed officials to issue the relevant notification with immediate effect. “Any IP, whether it’s a trademark, copyright, patent, design, traditional knowledge or a GI product — for three years, as a special drive to promote sports, the fees will be zero” he said.
In addition to the fee exemption, the government will extend facilitation support under existing schemes to assist innovators, students, artisans, and stakeholders in filing and securing IP rights, thereby easing their journey into the IP ecosystem, per a statement issued by the Commerce Department.
The Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team were felicitated by the Minister at the event for their historic performance. The team was honoured for securing a landmark victory after 67 years, including a notable win against an eight-time champion team, Karnataka.
Sustained efforts
“The Minister noted that the development comes in the backdrop of sustained efforts by the Government to promote sports and create new opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that increasing investments in infrastructure, coupled with expanding avenues in tourism and industry, are enabling greater participation of youth in diverse fields, including sports,” the statement highlighted.
Goyal called for the development of sports manufacturing clusters in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, along with Meerut, highlighting their potential to emerge as key hubs in the sports goods sector. He stressed the need to significantly boost domestic production of sports goods, including bats, balls, hockey equipment, training aids, and gym equipment, to strengthen indigenous manufacturing capabilities and support local value chains.
Highlighting prospects for Jammu and Kashmir, Goyal said regional strengths can be leveraged to develop specialised manufacturing ecosystems, particularly in sports goods, which can enhance local livelihoods and position the region more prominently in national and global markets. “He also encouraged innovation in sports formats and suggested that such innovations should be examined for appropriate intellectual property protection to ensure value creation and support the broader innovation-led growth of the sports sector,” the release stated.
Published on April 28, 2026