Indonesia is an extraordinary country that should not be overlooked by growth-oriented companies. The country’s uniqueness stems from its unique geography. The country consists of an archipelago of several thousand islands in the Pacific Ocean. The most important and best known are Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi and Bali. It is estimated that 90% of the country’s population of over 257 million live on these islands.
Indonesia is currently experiencing rapid economic growth. A steadily growing population is accompanied by a transformation from a low-income country to a consumer society with a growing middle class. Investment in infrastructure, particularly in logistics and e-commerce, is driving this growth. Innovations such as the delivery of online shopping by drones underline this dynamic.
At present, Indonesia may be seen in China’s economic shadow. However, in an evolving multipolar economic world, countries such as Indonesia and India are becoming increasingly important for companies seeking new markets. Therefore, advance trademark registration in Indonesia is a good first step in a company’s global growth.
Registering a trademark in Indonesia is a practical step for businesses, opening up opportunities for growth in the booming Pacific market. Indonesia has many strengths – a population of over 270 million that is growing year on year. The country is experiencing steady economic growth, making Indonesia a great place to do business in the future. Protecting your trademark in this beautiful archipelago is not only your ticket to doing business, but also protection from being copied.
In Indonesia, anyone can apply for trademark protection – individuals, local and foreign companies, as well as NGOs and associations.
Yes, an unused trademark can be extinguished in Indonesia. At the same time, this is only possible after three years have passed since the decision to register it. It is the applicant for trademark invalidation who must provide proof that the mark has not been used, otherwise his application will not be considered.
Filing a local application is a faster way to obtain a certificate of registration. This is because a locally filed application is processed immediately by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (known as DJKI), whereas a WIPO application must first be processed at WIPO and then sent to Indonesia, where the process starts from scratch. Filing locally saves several months of time.
In our experience, a certificate of registration based on a local application is always considered more official than a declaration of protection based on an international registration. However, in various government offices in Indonesia, it is often necessary to check the validity of such a declaration with the DJKI first to ensure that the WIPO letter is correct and has strong legal standing.
Time is of the essence when starting a business. Often, a local trademark certificate is required by various government agencies, courts, public, well-known online shops, the Indonesian Medicines Registration Agency, and the entrepreneur does not have one and has yet to apply for a local certificate from the DJKI. This takes time and money.
Commonly, the necessary documents include proof of identity or an English translation of the company’s registration document. You will also need to submit a power of attorney, an image of the trademark (if it is a figurative or combined word and figurative mark), and a list of the goods and services associated with the trademark. Providing a catalogue of the products that carry the trademark is also very helpful.
You can apply for renewal in Indonesia no earlier than 12 months but no later than 6 months before the expiry of the protection period.
No, you do not have to use a trademark in Indonesia before applying for protection. In Indonesia there is a ‘first come, first served’ policy for trademark applications.
Costs depend on the number of classes and products submitted. See our price list for details.
The law in Indonesia allows the registration of the following types of trademarks: logo, name, word, sign, figure, colour composition, 2D/3D shapes, sound, hologram or a combination of these elements.
In Indonesia, you can apply for multiple classes of trademark protection in a single application, but only up to three classes at a time. What’s more, if protection is refused in any class, the entire application will be put on hold until the issue is resolved.
This may delay the registration of the mark in classes that have not been refused until the refusal issue is resolved.
The Trademark Office in Indonesia usually issues the original trademark protection certificate 12-14 months after the end of the opposition period.
Trademark protection in Indonesia lasts for a period of 10 years from the date of filing a trademark for protection and not from the date of grant.
Yes, as an individual business owner you can apply for trademark protection in Indonesia. Through a professional representative, you will be asked to provide at least English business licence of your company, a description of the products/services offered and a representation of the trademark (graphic file with the mark).
You can apply for renewal in Indonesia no earlier than 12 months but no later than 6 months before the expiry of the protection period.
The availability of the mark can be checked in the database of Indonesian Trademark Office.