Main Highlights
- Intellectual Property Accelerator (IP Accelerator) program enable sellers who are also brand owners with access to IP specialists and legal firms
- Sellers can opt to work with these IP legal firms on Amazon websites to secure trademarks, protect their brands, and combat infringement
- Pilot-launched in India last year and has received positive feedback from businesses
Amazon announced the beginning of its Intellectual Property Accelerator program in India on Sunday, which would enable sellers who are also brand owners with access to IP specialists and legal firms.
According to a statement, these sellers, including small and medium businesses, can opt to work with these IP legal firms on Amazon.in and Amazon websites throughout the world to help secure trademarks, protect their brands, and combat infringement.
The IP Accelerator program, according to Mary Beth Westmoreland, Vice-President, Technology, and Brand Protection at the online platforms, is already available in the United States, Europe, and Canada.
Mary Beth Westmoreland’s Verdicts:
The program was launched in the US in 2019 and has since then expanded to Europe, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and now India. The program was pilot-launched in India last year and has received positive feedback from businesses, the statement said.
“We’re thrilled to be able to provide the benefits of this program to our Indian clients. Our IP Accelerator Program helps businesses secure their intellectual property, which helps to ensure that everyone has a genuine purchasing experience “Westmoreland went on to say.
“In order to differentiate their products, acquire customer trust, and develop their business, firms of all sizes must establish IP rights. However, the process can be complex and time-consuming, resulting in a lot of firms falling off along the road,” said Pranav Bhasin, Amazon India Director (MSME and Selling Partner Experience).
How will this program help the sellers?
Pranav went on to say that the program’s introduction in India will help lakhs of sellers, particularly small and medium-sized businesses with new brands, create IP protection. “Today, over 8.5 lakh sellers in India are registered on the platform, and we remain committed to providing new tools, technology, and innovation to help them expand,” Bhasin said.
The procedure of acquiring a trademark registration with the Intellectual Property India, Trademarks Registry (IN TMR) might take up to 18-24 months, according to the statement. Going through the procedure on their own may be time-consuming and challenging for brand owners, especially those from small and medium firms.
The IP Accelerator program began in the United States in 2019 and has since spread to Europe, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and, most recently, India. According to the statement, the program was piloted in India last year and received excellent feedback from businesses. Before their trademark is formally registered, businesses can use Amazon.in’s brand protection services to effectively defend and manage their brand and IP on the marketplace.”
“Amazon.in empowers brands through programs like Brand Registry, Transparency, and Project Zero,” according to the statement. “These programs use machine learning and automated systems to weed out potential counterfeits from the marketplace, allowing brands to protect their intellectual property rights.”
Indian sellers on Service Provider Network (SPN) can use IP Accelerator, and there is no additional charge for accessing company listings on SPN. According to the statement, the sellers can opt to engage with the law firms directly and independently for services of their choosing at mutually agreed rates.
