Filing an Industrial Design in Indonesia may look simple, but even small missteps can lead to rejection—or worse, invalidate your rights after registration. For foreign applicants entering the Indonesian market, understanding what not to do is just as important as knowing the process.
Here are the top three mistakes we see most often—and how to avoid them:
- Submitting Low-Quality or Blurry Images
In Indonesia, clear and precise visual representation is the foundation of your Industrial Design protection. The Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) requires at least seven views of your design—front, back, left, right, top, bottom, and perspective. If the images are pixelated, low-resolution, or fail to reflect the design’s features accurately, your application will likely be rejected.
Tip: Use high-resolution, black-and-white line drawings with no background noise. Avoid shadows, gradients, or photographic textures. Your images must clearly define the form, not confuse it. - Including Functional Features in the Design
Indonesia protects the appearance, not the function, of a product. If your design focuses on aspects driven purely by function (e.g., grooves, openings, or mechanisms necessary for the item to work), it may fall outside the scope of Industrial Design protection.
The DGIP strictly excludes any design elements that are dictated solely by function. Including such elements can lead to rejection or later invalidation if challenged.
Tip: Before filing, ask yourself: “Could this shape be different and still work the same?” If the answer is no, that feature likely won’t qualify.
- Filing After Public Disclosure—Without Knowing the Grace Period Rules
Many foreign applicants mistakenly believe that any public disclosure automatically voids their ability to protect a design in Indonesia. While Indonesia does have strict novelty requirements, the law also provides a 6-month grace period for certain types of disclosures.
Under Indonesian law, a design is considered novel only if it has not been made available to the public anywhere in the world before the filing or priority date. However, there are two exceptions:
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- If the design was displayed at a nationally or internationally recognized exhibition, or
- If the design was disclosed by the designer themselves for education, research, or development purposes.
In these cases, you still have up to 6 months to file your application without losing novelty.Tip: If you’ve already shown your design to the public, act fast. Check whether your situation qualifies for the grace period and file within six months—or risk permanent loss of rights.
Clean Up Your Designs Before You File
With rising interest in Indonesian design protection from global brands, getting it right the first time matters more than ever. A rejected or invalidated design not only costs time and money—it can expose your product to copycats in Southeast Asia’s biggest market.
Need help filing your design in Indonesia? Book a free 15-minute call with a registered Industrial Design consultant and ensure your design meets all local requirements:
📩 E-Mail : [email protected]
📞 Book a Call : +62 21 83793812
💬 WhatsApp : +62 812 87000 889
