A Concise Guide to:

Trademark in Indonesia

Trademark Indonesia

Since 1 August 2001, Indonesian trademark law is regulated under Law No. 15 of 2001 on Mark (“Law No. 15/2001”) for 16 years until October 2016. The Law No. 15/2001 still adopts the traditional trademark which makes Indonesia different from other jurisdictions who have adopted the non-traditional trademark. However on 27 October 2016, The House of Representatives (“DPR”) enacted the new Trademarks Bill into law. The new legislation (the “2016 Trademarks Law”) had long been anticipated as it relates to the requirement under the ASEAN Economic Community (“AEC”) accords for all ASEAN member countries to implement the 1989 Protocol to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks.

The new legislation is aimed at encouraging local businesses to broaden their markets, both locally and overseas, supported by the availability of immediate and effective legal protection. It provides a trademark owner with the option of filing a trademark through a foreign country’s trademark office (“International Bureau”), in accordance with the Madrid Protocol. It further modifies the trademark process and introduces the possibility of engaging independent experts to conduct the trademark examination process, a concept that was first introduced in the new Patents Law, which was enacted on 27 July 2016.

History of Indonesia Trademark Law

Trademark IndonesiaSince independence, Law No. 21 of 1961 on Company Trademarks and Commercial Trademarks (1961 Trademarks Law) was enacted to replace the colonial era legislation. The 1961 Trademarks Law was the first intellectual property legislation in the country aimed at protecting consumers against counterfeit products, Its date of promulgation (11 November 1961) is now marked each year as National
Intellectual Property Day.

On 10 May 1979, Indonesia ratified the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, through Presidential Decree No. 24 of 1979. However, Indonesia entered a number of reservations related to the scope of industrial property, national treatment, patent regulation, industrial design regulation, trademark regulation, special national industrial property services, and disputes between member states.

On 28 August 1992, the DPR enacted Law No. 19 of 1992 on Trademarks to replace the 1961 Trademarks Law. Then, on 15 April 1994, Indonesia agreed to sign the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (“TRIPS Agreement”). Thereafter, with Indonesia now being a World Trade Organization member, the DPR enacted Law No. 15 of 2001 on Trademarks (2001 Trademarks Law) in 2001 so as to being Indonesia’s laws and regulations related to intellectual property into line with the TRIPS Agreement.

Following the enactment of the 2001 Trademarks Law, the number of trademark applications increased significantly. However, not all interests were capable of being accommodated by the legislation, and with the AEC accords requiring the harmonization of the intellectual property regimes of each Asean member state, it became apparent that new trademark (the “2016 Trademarks Law”) legislation would be necessary.

Online Registration is applicable on the new Trademark Law

Trademark IndonesiaIn line with international developments, the 2016 Trademarks Law provides protection to both conventional and non-conventional trademarks, including both visible and non-visible elements. The protection of non-conventional trademarks was first introduced under the Singapore Treaty on Trademarks, which was ratified by over 40 countries, including the Benelux organization for intellectual property. In line with this, the definition of “trademark” under the 2016
Trademarks Law has been broadened to also include non-conventional elements such as two or three-dimensional forms, sounds and holograms, and any combination of such features. While the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (“DGIP”) has typically accepted all visual trademark applications that are relatively easy to compare, a potential challenge for the 2016 Trademarks Law is the provision of effective protection to sounds and holograms, elements that
are still uncommon in Indonesia.

Another significant change under the 2016 Trademarks Law pertains to the trademark registration process, which has now been accelerated. The previous trademark application
process would begin only after the DGIP assessed the completeness of the administrative submissions, which would be followed by a substantive examination by an examiner for a prescribed period of nine months. If the application was not rejected or was not subject to comments by the examiner, the DGIP would then publish the trademark application in the Trademark Gazette, which would be followed by a three-month public review process. If no opposition was filed by a third party within 30 days from the date of expiry of the announcement period, the DGIP would then issue the trademark certificate. In theory, the trademark
registration process took approximately 12-18 months, but in practice it could take more than 24 months due to the huge backlog of applications in the DGIP.

By contrast, under the 2016 Trademarks Law, the trademark registration process begins with the filing of a trademark application with the DGIP. Upon receipt of the application, the DGIP will conduct an administrative examination process. If the application is accepted, it will be published (for potential opposition) in the Official Gazette of Intellectual Property 15 days after the filing date. There then follows a period of two months, known as the announcement period, which is intended to allow third parties to file oppositions. If no opposition is filed by a third party within 30 days of the date of expiry of the announcement period, the trademark application will be further processed through the conducting of a substantive examination by the examiner. This examination should be completed within five months, at the latest. Upon completion of the examination, the DGIP will then issue the trademark certificate.

The 2016 Trademarks Law also allows a trademark application to be submitted online and process through PT Bizindo Asia Global (www.bizindo.com). You can email to [email protected] or whatsapp to +628156290000. Overall, the trademark registration process under the 2016 Trademarks Law should theoretically take about eight months, although in practice it is almost inevitable that the process will take much longer due to the backlog of applications in the DGIP. 

The 2016 Trademarks Law introduces a new rule on generic trademarks that have been registered with the DGIP’s General Registry. A generic trademark is a trademark that has become the generic reference for and/or association to a particular product or service. Under the previous legislation, a generic trademark owner is the sole owner of such trademark. With the enactment of the 2016 Trademarks Law, any party can register a generic trademark as long as it incorporates additional words as distinguishing features. Such provision eliminates the possibility of dominance of a trademark that may in the future become generically known as the name of a particular product or service.

Trademark Licensing

A trademark license is a permission given by the owner of registered trademark to another party through an agreement, in which the owner as the licensor grants its rights to the licensee for using the trademark, either for the whole or part of goods and/or services as registered in the trademark. The use of registered trademark by the licensee in Indonesia is considered to be no different with the use of the registered trademark by the owner as the licensor.

The license agreement is valid to all territories in Indonesia, unless the license agreement states otherwise that the trademark licensing can only be implemented in certain territory. The license agreement can also stipulate whether the licensee may only use the trademark license by itself or 
may grant a license to another licensee (sub-licensee). Things that need to be considered when making a trademark license agreement are as follows:

  1. the period of trademark license cannot be longer than the period oftrademark;
  2. The license agreement cannot contain provisions that may be detrimental to the Indonesian economy or contain restrictions that can inhibit the ability of Indonesian nation in controlling and developing the technology;
  3. The license agreement must be applied for recording to the trademark office, in order to be recorded in the general register of trademarks and announced in the official gazette of trademarks.

The license agreement has no legal consequences to the parties (in the license agreement) and third party if it is not recorded to the trademark office. The requirements and procedure for applying the recordal of license agreement is regulated under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 8 of 2016 on Requirements and Guidelines of Application for Registration of Intellectual Property License Agreement. The application can be done electronically or nonelectronically. Documents that have to be submitted are:

  1. License agreement or proof of license agreements(copy);
  2. Trademark certificate (copy);
  3. Power of attorney, if the application is submitted by proxy (original); and
  4. Payment receipt of registration application fee (original).

Transfer of Rights

The transfer of rights to a registered trademark occurs due to several matters:

  1. Inheritance;
  2. Testament;
  3. Grant;
  4. Agreement, or
  5. Other reasons permitted under the regulations.

The transfer of registered mark shall be recorded in the general register of mark, through an application to the Directorate General, along with its supporting documents.

The Recognition of Well-Known Marks

The concept of “well-known marks” has been adopted in Indonesia for a number of years. The concept was originally derived from the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (“Paris Convention”), whereby a product with a well-known mark is distinguished from a normal mark. The degree of protection enjoyed by well-known marks remains relatively high in comparison with that enjoyed by normal marks. As a consequence, many businesses would love to have their marks classified as well-known marks.

The criteria and characteristics of any mark which a party wishes to categorize as a well-known mark are inevitably influenced by how the international community defines and classifies a mark as one that is well known. However, ultimately, competent authorities in each country have the responsibility of deciding whether a mark is well-known or not.

The following section will analyze the definition and scope of well-known marks from three different perspectives: 1) International frameworks; 2) Indonesia frameworks; and 3) Court practices.

How Bizindo can help?

We can help you on below:

  1. Trademark Search
  2. Trademark Registration
  3. Priority Claim
  4. Opposition: If there is an opposition or Objection from othe party in the registration process, provided that we represent the client for the trademark registration
  5. Appeal: If the application is rejected in the opposition process, and the client wants to file an appeal of trademark in the Trademark
  6. Registration of Trademark Assignment Recordation
  7. Recording Change of Name or Address
  8. Obtaining certified copy of registration certificate
  9. Renewal

Get a Quote for Trademark Services

Kindly fill in the form below, our consultant will get in touch as soonest.
Alternatively you can call at +62 815 629 0000 or email to [email protected]

Leave this field blank
* Click on box which you require our help.