Patent fees for educational institutions reduced by 80 per cent
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 23
The government on Thursday decreased the processing and patent filing fees, charged on educational institutions, by 80 per cent.
“Benefits related to 80 per cent reduced fee for patent filing and prosecution have been extended to educational institutions as well. The Centre has notified the amendments to the Patents Rules in this regard,” an official statement said.
Educational institutions engage in many research activities, where professors/teachers and students generate several new technologies which need to be patented to facilitate commercialisation of the same.
“High patenting fees present a restrictive element for getting these technologies patented and thus work as a disincentive for development of new technologies,” it added.
“At the time of applying for patents, the innovators have to apply these patents in the name of the institutions that have to pay fees for large applicants, which are very high and thus work as a disincentive.
“In this regard and to encourage greater participation of the educations institutions, who play a pivotal role in country’s innovation, official fees payable by them in respect of various acts under the Patents Rules, 2003, have been reduced by way of the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2021, which came into effect on 21 September 2021,” the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) stated.
