In order to reduce expenses for businesses and increase the opportunity to receive additional benefits, which will leave at least 700 000 GEL in the private sector, Sakpatenti puts forward an initiative to introduce a reduction. Within the package of additional measures offered by the Government of Georgia to support business during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Intellectual Property Center will apply 50% reduction in the fees for trademark registration in case of electronic filing of applications.
On December 3, 2020, Mindia Davitadze, Sakpatenti Chairman, made a statement regarding the initative at the Government session. He submitted the draft Resolution of the Government to the Cabinet of Ministers for consideration that defines the legal procedure of amendments to the fees. According to the draft Resolution of the Government, the amendment entered in 2018 to the Resolution of the Government of Georgia No 182 of July 3, 2010, introducing a 20% reduction in the fees for applicants in case of selection of the electronic form of proceedings, will be changed to a 50% reduction. The above-mentioned reduction will be valid for 6 months – from December 7, 2020 to June 7, 2021.
During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic period, economic situation existing in the country was also reflected in the number of applications filed with Sakpatenti. In particular, according to the statistical data of the first six months of 2020, the number of applications for trademark registration is decreased by 8%.
According to financial calculations, up to 1000 anticipated applications will enjoy the reduction during six months from December 7, 2020. Anticipated amount of money from new applications on which the reduction will apply is about 1 350 000 GEL. The amount saved by the payers in case of a 50% reduction will reach 675 000 GEL. The initiative concerning the introduction of the reduction in fees for trademark registration is aimed to encourage applicants to maintain and increase their capacity to acquire additional assets by concession through the support for decreasing the expenses.
From the beginning of the pandemic to the present day, Sakpatenti is among the small number of intellectual property offices in the world which fully moved to the teleworking mode and continued fulfilling their functions without delay. In order to address delays, various IP offices of the world introduced a number of concessions with respect to application deadlines. However, no initiative has been introduced around the world concerning a reduction in the fees.
National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia - Sakpatenti is a self-financing independent state agency – a legal entity of public law, determining the state policy in the field of intellectual property. Its main function is to grant legal protection to intellectual property subject-matters: inventions, utility models, trademarks, designs, geographical indications and appellations of origin, new varieties of plants and breeds of animals, as well as to ensure voluntary deposition of works protected by copyright.
