When people think about Intellectual Property (IP) in Indonesia, their minds often go straight to Batik—a traditional cultural expression protected under Copyright. But beyond the cultural spotlight lies a vastly underappreciated and highly strategic asset in IP: Industrial Design.
Despite its growing importance, Industrial Design protection in Indonesia remains largely overlooked by creators, businesses, and even international investors. That’s a major missed opportunity, especially considering Indonesia’s growing importance in global trade and IP.
Industrial Design: More Than Just Aesthetic Appeal
An Industrial Design protects the visual appearance of a product—its shape, pattern, lines, contours, colors, or any combination thereof. It’s not about functionality, but about form. If you’ve created a distinctive bottle shape, a shoe silhouette, a furniture design, or unique packaging, it may qualify for protection under Industrial Design law.
In today’s consumer-driven world, where visual differentiation drives value, protecting these design elements is crucial.
The Untold Fact: Indonesia Is Quietly Active
Indonesia is not a passive player in industrial design. Since 2017, the country has consistently recorded over 2,000 industrial design applications annually, reflecting a healthy and growing awareness of design protection.
In fact, by 2022, filings reached a record high of 3,533 applications, indicating rising activity from both domestic and foreign applicants. This trend highlights how businesses are starting to treat design not just as an aesthetic enhancement, but as a strategic asset worth securing in Indonesia.
Foreign filings have also increased steadily, signaling that Indonesia is gaining global recognition not only as a major consumer market but also as a jurisdiction with valuable IP infrastructure.
Why Indonesia Attracts Design Filings
One reason behind the steady interest in Indonesia’s Industrial Design system is its clear and straightforward protection regime. An industrial design in Indonesia is protected for a fixed term of 10 years from the filing date, without the need for renewals. While this duration is standard compared to many jurisdictions, it offers legal certainty for businesses during a product’s most commercially active years.
Combined with Indonesia’s growing consumer market and increasing awareness of IP enforcement, this makes the country an attractive destination for securing design rights, especially for fast-moving consumer goods, packaging, and lifestyle products.
When Copyright Is Not Enough
Creators in Indonesia often wonder whether their work should be protected under Copyright or Industrial Design. The distinction can be subtle but important.
Take Batik motifs used in modern fashion products as an example. While the motif itself may be protected by Copyright, if it’s applied to mass-produced products and serves a commercial, aesthetic function, Industrial Design registration might provide stronger and more enforceable protection.
The same applies to everyday consumer items: phone cases, kitchenware, footwear, automotive parts, or cosmetic packaging—if it looks unique, it should be protected.
Securing Design in Southeast Asia’s Largest Market
With over 270 million people, Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest consumer market. Any successful product design that hits the market is bound to be imitated. Without proper protection, you risk losing your product’s most valuable differentiator—its visual identity.
Registering your Industrial Design gives you exclusive rights to prevent others from using, selling, or reproducing the same or similar designs. It also provides a solid legal foundation for enforcement in case of infringement.
If you’re expanding into Southeast Asia and want to secure your product’s visual identity in one of its most dynamic markets, Industrial Design protection in Indonesia is a smart first step.
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