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Companies to get back patent fees
By siliconindia
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Friday, 14 December 2007, 17:56 IST
New Delhi: The Department of Information Technology has launched its programme entitled, "Support International Patent Protection in Electronics & IT (SIP-EIT)" to encourage innovation among emerging companies.
Under the new scheme, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and technology start-up companies can apply for reimbursement. The reimbursement limit will be up to Rs 15 lakh, for the costs incured in filing international patent applications. The scheme applies for their indigenous inventions in the electronics and information, communication and technology (ICT) domain.
Under the new scheme Rs 15 lakh or 50 percent of total expense incurred on filing each patent application or , patent processing costs including attorneys, fees, patent office filing fees, examination fees, patent search cost, additional cost for entering national phase up to grant/issue, whichever is less will be reimbursed.
"There has been a long-standing demand for such a scheme and various industry associations have been lobbying with us for the same," said an official of the Department of Information and Technology to Business standard.
The five-year scheme was introduced on November 4, 2007. Beyond the allotted time frame, the scheme will be reviewed for extension, said the official.
The companies must be an Indian micro, small or medium enterprise from the manufacturing sector whose investment in plant and machinery does not exceed Rs 10 crore, can avail the benefits of the scheme.
Companies with an in-house R&D certification by Department for Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR) or Technology Incubation enterprises registered as companies with support under some government scheme are also entitled to avail the benefits.
"The scheme is at a very initial stage, so, it is difficult to judge the success of the programme. We have received a few applications till date, which will take about a month to process. We are optimistic about the response we will receive in the future," said the official.