India Announces “Zero Fee” Policy for Sports IP Registrations

India’s sports innovation ecosystem received a major boost on 28 April 2026 when Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India, announced the “Zero Fee” policy for Sports Intellectual Property (IP), directing immediate implementation.

The initiative removes filing costs for sports-related IP registrations, making it easier for athletes, sports startups, federations, innovators, and equipment developers to protect their trademarks, patents, copyrights, and designs.

This step highlights the growing importance of sports as an innovation-driven industry in India. From sports technology and analytics to branding, merchandising, and performance equipment, IP protection is essential for safeguarding originality and commercial value.

Since the policy is only a few days old (as of 2 May 2026), technical updates to the IP India Online Portal are likely still in progress.

Expected Timeline for Portal Update:
• Official Notification: The Minister has already directed that a formal notification be issued immediately.
• System Integration: Updates to filing categories within the CGPDTM system generally take 3–7 working days after notification.
• Expected Visibility: The “Zero Fee” option is expected to appear on the portal between 4 May and 8 May 2026, once the backend fee structure is updated.

This reform could significantly improve accessibility to IP protection in the sports sector, encouraging innovation and helping India build stronger sports-based enterprises and global brands.