The process of trademark registration in Indonesia involves several stages:

Stage 1: Submission of Application

The applicant submits a trademark application through the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) either online via the official website or directly at the DJKI office. The application must include the applicant’s information, the type of goods or services to be registered, and a visual example of the proposed trademark.

Stage 2: Formality Examination

After receiving the application, DJKI conducts an administrative check to ensure all required documents are complete. If there are any deficiencies, the applicant will be given time to complete them. Once all requirements are met, the application proceeds to the next stage.

Stage 3: Trademark Announcement

If the application is complete, the proposed trademark will be published in the Official Trademark Gazette for 2 months. During this period, other parties who object to the registration may submit oppositions.

Stage 4: Substantive Examination

If there are no objections, or if any objections are rejected, DJKI will perform a substantive examination to ensure the trademark does not conflict with previously registered trademarks. This stage aims to prevent duplication and protect existing intellectual property rights.

Stage 5: Issuance of Certificate

If the substantive examination is completed without issues, DJKI will issue a trademark certificate stating that the trademark is officially registered. The certificate is valid for 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed for subsequent periods.

Trademarks, as signs that distinguish one product from another, are a crucial form of intellectual property that should be registered to protect company assets. Registering a trademark is not a matter of granting permission but of securing rights, which is why careful examination is required to avoid infringing on the rights of others.

Trademark registration can also be done online to protect a business’s brand.

One reason a trademark may be rejected is if it contradicts the country’s ideology, laws, morality, religion, decency, or public order; contains misleading information about origin, type, or size; includes claims inconsistent with the product’s quality or benefits; or lacks distinctiveness from other existing trademarks.