Government Finalizes Revision of the Trademark and Geographical Indications Law

The government continues to refine the draft Bill (“RUU”) on the Amendment to Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications (“Law 20/2016”). One of the key points concerns strengthening the first-to-file system for business actors, particularly in the Micro-, Small- and Medium-scale Enterprises (“MSMEs”) sector.

“Fast and certain trademark registration is key to supporting a healthy business climate by increasing consumer trust and strengthening the competitiveness of national products,” said Daniel Agus Dinar, Junior Expert Legal Analyst at the Directorate of Legislative Drafting, Directorate General of Legislation, Ministry of Law, as quoted by Hukumonline.

Accelerating the trademark registration process has become an urgent necessity so that business actors can obtain legal certainty and be protected from potential disputes and trademark infringement. Through this revision, the intellectual property protection system is expected to go beyond mere administrative formality and instead function as an effective legal protection instrument for all creative economy business actors.

“We are targeting completion this year, in the second or third quarter,” he added.