Several Issues in the Revision of the Industrial Design Law

Fajar Ciptandi, a professor of creative industries at Telkom University, has identified several aspects that need improvement in the Revision of Law No. 31 of 2000 on Industrial Design, as amended by Law No. 1 of 2026 on Criminal Adjustment (collectively referred to as “Law 31/2000”). These improvements aim to ensure that industrial design rights benefit all sectors, including independent designers and small design studios. 

Fajar noted that one key factor to emphasize in this regulatory revision relates to streamlining the process and reducing the time required for industrial design registration. According to him, shortening the registration timeline is crucial to prevent others from copying the designs produced.

“If the industrial design certificate takes too long to issue, eventually another applicant might emerge with a similar innovation. They’re racing against time,” he said when met after a public hearing at the Senayan Parliament Complex on Wednesday (June 3).

Fajar also suggested that the Industrial Design Draft Bill should address the issue of unclear criteria for assessing plagiarism. According to him, the industry requires measurable criteria and plagiarism assessments so that the process of determining a design’s novelty can be conducted objectively, consistently, and provide legal certainty for design rights holders.

Additionally, Fajar highlighted the still-unaffordable costs of intellectual property registration. This issue, he said, often serves as a financial barrier for designers seeking legal protection for their work. 

Furthermore, according to Fajar, these changes also need to clarify the benefits of industrial design rights. For example, opportunities to increase exposure and market access, so that industrial design right holders can also reap economic benefits. “Of course, this is to encourage them to produce even more new innovations,” he said.