Patent Applications Deemed Withdrawn

Hundreds of Patent Applications Deemed Withdrawn by the DGIP

JAKARTA – Hundreds of patent applications have been deemed withdrawn for various reasons, including incomplete formality documents. Although the Patent Directorate issued formal letters regarding these deficiencies, many applicants failed to respond.

According to data from the Patent Directorate of the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), Ministry of Law, a total of 769 patent applications were deemed withdrawn in 2024. Several factors contributed to this status, including incomplete formality documents and frequent failures to meet deadlines for payment of substantive examination fees.

Sonya Pau Adu, Head of the Patent Application Team at the DGIP, explained that applicants frequently fail to meet the deadline for payment of substantive examination fees. As a consequence, their patent applications are deemed withdrawn.

In many cases, failure to pay the substantive examination fee occurs most frequently in patent applications. This contrasts with simple patent applications, where applicants are required to pay the substantive examination fee at the time of filing.

The Patent Directorate regularly sends letters to inform applicants of deficiencies in their formality documents so that they can be completed, as well as reminders about the obligation to pay the substantive examination fee according to the predetermined schedule. However, these letters were often not responded. As a result, the patent applications are deemed withdrawn.

Therefore, it is crucial for applicants to regularly monitor the progress of their patent and simple patent applications submitted to the DGIP, including ensuring that any notification letters requiring follow-up are properly addressed. In practice, this process can be time-consuming and requires close attention. As part of the services we provide, we assist clients in navigating this process more efficiently through regular monitoring and strategic advice to help keep their applications active and on track. (RKH/SAP-su)