Intellectual property (IP) refers to legal rights that protect creations of the human intellect, giving the creator or owner exclusive rights to exploit them for a limited period, or, in the case of trade marks, for as long as they are renewed and used.
Main Categories
Copyright protects original literary, artistic, musical and scientific works, including software. Patents protect new, inventive and industrially applicable inventions. Trade marks protect signs that distinguish the goods or services of one undertaking from those of others. Industrial designs protect the appearance of products. Other rights cover trade secrets, layout designs of integrated circuits, plant varieties and geographical indications.
In Indonesia
Indonesian IP law includes Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright, Law No. 13 of 2016 on Patents (amended by Law No. 65 of 2024), Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trade Marks and Geographical Indications, Law No. 31 of 2000 on Industrial Designs, and Law No. 30 of 2000 on Trade Secrets. Registrations are administered by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property.
Registration Systems
Copyright arises automatically on creation, although recording is available as evidence. Patents, trade marks and industrial designs must be registered. Indonesia follows a "first to file" system for trade marks, so early registration is essential for any business.
International Framework
Indonesia is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization and is bound by the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the Paris Convention, the Berne Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty, among others.