Indian Exporters Face Significant Risks Without Strategic Intellectual Property Planning, Report Warns

Indian companies expanding their footprint across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America must now regard intellectual property (IP) as a vital business asset rather than merely a legal formality, according to a joint report by the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) and RNA Technology and IP Attorneys.

The report stresses that for exporters, valuable assets extend beyond physical factories and inventories to include intellectual property rights that influence market access, company valuation, partnerships, and long-term competitiveness.

Highlighting the risks of inadequate IP planning, the report warns that companies entering foreign markets without thorough preparation may face challenges such as trademark squatting, patent infringement claims, customs seizures, counterfeiting, trade secret theft, and expensive rebranding efforts.

"For Indian exporters, international growth requires an integrated operating discipline in which IP protection, FTA utilisation, customs documentation, regulatory compliance, supply-chain controls, and contractual safeguards are planned together before market exposure begins," the report states.

It advocates for a proactive and structured IP strategy prior to market entry. Businesses should identify their key intellectual assets, assess ownership and protection gaps, evaluate trademark availability, and prioritize filings for patents, trademarks, designs, and trade secret protections.

Delays in executing these steps can result in missed opportunities and permanent loss of valuable rights, the report cautions.

The TPCI hosted the India IP Advantage Summit 2026 to focus on transforming India’s rising IP momentum into commercial advantage on the global stage.

Mohit Singla, Chairman of TPCI, noted that although patent filings and IP registrations have steadily increased, challenges remain in commercialization, enforcement, and achieving global recognition.

"Building a robust pipeline of Indian-owned patents and trademarks across sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, consumer brands, and creative industries will be pivotal to securing India's place in the global knowledge economy," Singla said. He highlighted that patent applications filed with the Indian Patent Office rose from 58,503 in 2020-21 to 143,729 in 2025-26.

Unnat Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks (CGPDT), speaking at the summit, outlined recent initiatives aimed at streamlining the filing processes for IP applications, reinforcing the government’s commitment to supporting IP development and protection.