Trademark Registration Regulations in Indonesia

Every business owner should understand Trademark Registration Regulations in Indonesia.

As we all know, a trademark is more than just a symbol. It also represents the identity of a business.

This identity must be protected to prevent potential misuse that could harm the business.

Trademark registration regulations also cover the entire registration procedure, from the initial application to the final stage.

The process is not difficult and can be completed online. So, what are the applicable trademark registration regulations in Indonesia?

Legal Basis for Trademark Registration in Indonesia

Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications serves as the primary legal basis for trademark registration regulations in Indonesia. This law replaced the previous regulation, Law No. 15 of 2001.

The previous law was replaced because it still had several limitations and could no longer fully accommodate developments and public needs regarding the protection of trademarks and geographical indications.

The newer law provides stronger trademark protection and helps ensure that every trademark owner can receive appropriate legal protection. The law was established for an important reason.

As you may already know, a trademark plays a significant role as the identity of a business.

Without legal protection, trademark owners may be unable to prevent misuse by other parties and may not have exclusive rights to their trademarks.

These exclusive rights are essential for the long-term sustainability of a business. Therefore, every business owner in Indonesia should officially register their trademark.

Trademark Registration Regulations

Under trademark registration regulations, applicants must complete an application form to register their trademark. The Ministry of Law will then examine the form and verify whether all requirements have been fulfilled.

If the application meets the requirements, the trademark registration process can proceed to the next stage.

However, if any required information or documents are missing, the applicant generally has two months to complete them.

The following are the required documents and trademark registration procedures.

1. Documents Required for Trademark Registration

• Contact information for the person responsible for managing the trademark application, including their full name, email address, and phone number.
• Applicant information, whether the applicant is an individual or a legal entity, including their name, address, city or regency, and postal code.
• A trademark label or representation measuring either 2 × 2 cm or 9 × 9 cm in .jpg format.
• A power of attorney when using a consultant or third party to manage the trademark application.
• A recommendation letter for micro and small businesses participating in a government-supported business program.
• A statement confirming that the attached recommendation letter is genuine and complete, with the appropriate duty stamp.

2. Trademark Registration Steps

Once all the requirements are complete, you can begin registering your trademark. Applications may be submitted online or offline.

a. Online Registration

Go to the official website of the Directorate General of Intellectual Property, or DJKI, at merek.dgip.go.id.

If you do not already have an account, create one by selecting the registration option. Enter the required information, including your password, email address, region, applicant type, and other details.

After successfully creating an account, select the option to submit a new application. At this stage, you must complete the application form using accurate and up-to-date information.

You can also upload all the required documents you prepared earlier.

Next, proceed to the trademark fee payment stage. Request a billing code through simpaki.dgip.go.id. The available payment options, such as mobile banking or an ATM, will appear on the screen. Pay the amount shown.

After completing the payment, review all information and documents before submitting the application to DJKI.

If all the information is correct, select Complete, and the trademark application will be submitted to DJKI.

If DJKI identifies incomplete requirements, the applicant will usually be given time to submit the missing documents.

If the application is approved, a trademark certificate will be issued, and the registered trademark will receive legal protection.

b. Offline Registration

Under trademark registration regulations, applicants may also submit a trademark application offline by visiting the Directorate General of Intellectual Property office directly.

When visiting the DJKI office, bring all required documents, such as the business entity’s deed of establishment, trademark label, copy of the applicant’s identity card, and other supporting documents.

Inform the DJKI officer that you would like to register a trademark. The officer will provide an application form that must be completed in full.

DJKI will then conduct a substantive examination, which may take up to 150 business days.

If DJKI approves the substantive examination results, the trademark application may proceed to the registration stage.

Trademark Registration Timeline and Fees

In the past, trademark registration in Indonesia could take approximately nine to 12 months or even longer.

However, according to information from the Ministry of Law, the trademark registration timeline has changed.

The Ministry has stated that the trademark registration process in Indonesia may now take no longer than six months.

This improvement has been attributed to the absence of a backlog in trademark applications.

As a result, people who want to register their business trademarks may receive their results faster than before.

The process includes the following stages:

• Administrative examination of the application
• Publication of the trademark in the Official Trademark Gazette
• Substantive examination
• Issuance of the trademark certificate

The trademark registration process in Indonesia is now reportedly faster than in several other countries, including China, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. Registration fees in Indonesia are also relatively affordable.

The trademark registration fee in Indonesia is IDR 1,800,000 per class for general applicants.

For micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, the registration fee is approximately IDR 500,000 per class.

These are the main trademark registration regulations, including the estimated processing time and applicable fees.

Understanding these regulations is especially important for anyone who owns or operates a business.

A trademark application may not proceed smoothly when the required documents or information are incomplete.

When all requirements are fulfilled correctly, the application process can run more efficiently and with fewer obstacles.

However, the overall registration process may still take up to six months.

Protect Your Business Name Before You Lose It

For a more convenient and practical trademark registration process, you can use the trademark registration services offered by Jasamerek.com.

Through Jasamerek.com, you can receive assistance from brand experts supported by the latest artificial intelligence technology. This technology helps make trademark analysis more accurate.

The administrative filing process can also be completed quickly, potentially within one business day.

In addition to saving time, the service may also help reduce the effort and resources required to manage the application independently.

Contact Jasamerek.com today to begin protecting your trademark.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does trademark protection remain valid?

Under Law No. 20 of 2016, a registered trademark is protected for 10 years from the filing date.

2. What are the seven types of trademarks?

The seven types include product trademarks, service trademarks, collective marks, certification marks, shape marks, sound marks, and pattern marks.

3. What happens if a trademark owner misses the renewal deadline?

Trademark owners generally have an additional six-month grace period to renew their trademarks.

Tasya Mandarira

Legal Intellectual Property Expert M.H

A trademark dispute specialist with over 8 years of experience in trademark law, specializing in trademark news, trademark cases, and trademark journals. Has expertise in drafting regulatory content and trademark guidelines, from the pre-application stage through the post-application stage.

Areas of Expertise: Trademark News, Trademark Cases, Trademark Journal, Pre-Application, Post-Application