IP protection, FTA utilisation, contractual safeguards’ integration key for Indian exporters: Report

For Indian exporters, international growth requires an integrated operating discipline in which intellectual property (IP) protection, utilisation of free trade agreements (FTA), customs documentation, regulatory compliance, supply chain controls, and contractual safeguards are planned together before market exposure begins, Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), RNA Technology and IP Attorneys said in a report.

Noting that export readiness cannot be built through isolated legal filings, ad hoc contracts, or last-minute compliance checks, they said that this requires moving IP from the legal department's checklist to the exporter's strategic planning table.

As per the report titled “From India to the World”, decisions on filing territories, priority deadlines, Freedom-to-Operate reviews, brand clearance, origin documentation, and partner controls should be linked to revenue plans, product launches, distributor appointments, manufacturing arrangements, and investor expectations.


“When these decisions are aligned, IP becomes a tool for market confidence rather than a reactive response to disputes,” it said.

Mohit Singla, chairman TPCI said that as India aggressively expands its global trade footprint through recent FTAs, IP has evolved from a legal compliance requirement into a pivotal economic leverage asset.

“To maximise the true potential of these FTAs and achieve our target of a $2 trillion export economy, Indian industry must transition from the economics of manufacturing to the economics of ownership—shifting our mindset from merely ‘Make in India’ to ‘Own the World’,” Singla said.

Indian exporters should not ask only whether they can sell abroad; they should ask whether their rights, contracts, documentation, and internal controls are strong enough to protect the business after global exposure begins, according to the report.

As Indian companies expand into overseas markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, IP is no longer only a legal concern, it is increasingly a business asset that influences market access, valuation, partnerships, and long-term competitiveness, it said.

“We have never thought that we would see 20% growth in trademark filings; we have also liquidated pendency in patents,” said Unnat Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks.

The Patent applications filed with the Indian Patent office increased to 1.43 lakh in FY26 from 58,503 in FY21. Indian applicants accounted for 68,201 of the patent applications in 2024-25, representing approximately 62% of the total.