A 22% Rise in Indonesia's Trademark Submissions to the WIPO

JAKARTA: As a result of Indonesia's 2018 accession to the Madrid Protocol, the number of international trademark registration applications from Indonesia increased by approximately 22% in 2021.

According to data released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the number of applications for international trademark registration from Indonesia addressed through WIPO reached 122 in 2021, an increase of approximately 22 percent compared to the 99 trademark applications recorded in 2020.

Despite the significant increase, the application for an international trademark from Indonesia in 2021 is still far behind trademark applications from Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Malaysia only joined the Madrid Protocol on 27 December 2019, one year after Indonesia. In 2021, they submitted 161 international trademark applications to WIPO, increasing from the 102 applications they submitted in 2020. In 2021, Singapore submitted 791 international trademark applications, while Vietnam submitted 137.

The WIPO member states that have ratified the Madrid Protocol are guided by the principles of One Application, One Registration Number, One Renewal, One Currency, and One Document. The number of Madrid Protocol members will reach 128 by 2021. Indonesia became the 100th member to ratify the Protocol on 5 June 2018.

The Madrid Protocol has advantages over traditional trademark registration procedures due to its efficient and cost-effective method of registering and managing global trademarks. Applying for protection in up to 128 countries requires a single application and a single set of fees. The trademark applications do not need to be filed in each country separately. There is one single submission to the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

Participation in the Madrid Protocol is a step forward for Indonesia. Other ASEAN members, such as Thailand, joined the Madrid Protocol on 7 January 2017, while Singapore joined in 2000. Vietnam and the Philippines have also registered as Madrid Protocol members.

As a developing nation, it is essential for Indonesia to join the Madrid Protocol, especially since many Indonesian business owners seek international trademark protection to protect their trademarks/services in export destination countries. (su/SMN-ADR)

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