{"id":5889,"date":"2026-03-17T04:21:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T04:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/?p=5889"},"modified":"2026-03-17T04:21:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T04:21:41","slug":"absolute-grounds-for-trademark-refusal-in-indonesia-morality-public-order-descriptiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/2026\/03\/17\/absolute-grounds-for-trademark-refusal-in-indonesia-morality-public-order-descriptiveness\/","title":{"rendered":"Absolute Grounds for Trademark Refusal in Indonesia: Morality, Public Order &amp; Descriptiveness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many business owners assume that as long as a name or logo has not been used by another party, it can be registered as a Trademark without any issue. In practice, however, during the examination process at the Indonesian Trademark Office (DGIP), there are several reasons why a Trademark Application may be rejected outright\u2014even without considering whether there is an identical or similar Trademark owned by another party.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These reasons are known as \u201cabsolute grounds for refusal,\u201d as stipulated in <\/span><b>Article 20 of Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Rejected Without Comparing Other Trademarks<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Absolute grounds for refusal relate to the substance of the Trademark itself, rather than conflicts with existing Trademarks. In practice, the most common reasons include:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being contrary to morality<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being contrary to public order<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Being descriptive of the goods or services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Understanding these three aspects is crucial so that business owners can avoid rejection from the very beginning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><b>Trademarks Contrary to Morality<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One of the most fundamental reasons for rejecting a Trademark is when the sign is considered to violate societal norms of decency or morality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This may include the use of words, images, or symbols that:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contain pornographic elements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Insult or demean certain groups<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Include vulgar or inappropriate language<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Potentially offend cultural or religious values<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the trademark registration system does not grant legal protection to signs that may harm social values within society.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Names containing vulgar expressions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Logos depicting symbols that may insult certain beliefs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Even if a sign may be considered creative from a marketing perspective, if it is deemed to violate public moral standards, the Trademark Application will most likely be rejected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><b>Trademarks Contrary to Public Order<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition to morality concerns, DGIP may also reject signs considered to be contrary to public order.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Public order relates to the broader interests of society and social stability. Therefore, Trademarks containing the following elements may be refused:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The use of state symbols without authorization<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unauthorized use of symbols of international organizations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Elements that may provoke social or political conflict<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Signs that mislead the public regarding official authority or status<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, the use of national emblems, national flags, or official government symbols in a Trademark is generally not allowed without special permission.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The reason is simple: the public may assume that the product has an official connection with a government institution or authority, when in fact it does not.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><b>Descriptive Trademarks<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Another very common reason for Trademark refusal is when the sign is descriptive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A Trademark is considered descriptive when it directly describes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the type of goods or services<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the quality of the product<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the function of the product<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the characteristics of the product<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the geographical origin of the product<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The term \u201cDELICIOUS COFFEE\u201d for coffee products<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The term \u201cFRESH\u201d for beverages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The term \u201cSUPER FAST DELIVERY\u201d for courier services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The problem with descriptive Trademarks is that such terms must remain available for use by other businesses to describe their own products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If these common terms were granted exclusive rights to one party, other businesses would face difficulties describing their products fairly in the marketplace.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Therefore, Indonesian Trademark Law requires that a Trademark must possess distinctiveness in order to be registered.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><b>Why Understanding Absolute Grounds for Refusal Matters<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">By analyzing these three grounds for refusal, you can not only minimize the risk of rejection but also gain several advantages:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The registration process can proceed more efficiently<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The risk of losing the registration fees can be minimized<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Your branding strategy can continue according to plan<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Should you have further questions regarding the absolute grounds for refusal in Trademark registration in Indonesia or abroad, feel free to contact us through the following channels and receive a FREE 15-minute consultation.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\ud83d\udce9 E-Mail<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: trademark@affa.co.id<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\ud83d\udcde Book a Call<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: +62 21 83793812<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\ud83d\udcac WhatsApp<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: +62 812 87000 889<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>About AFFA:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Established in 1999, AFFA Intellectual Property Rights is an Indonesia-based boutique IP law firm serving international brands and innovators, offering full-service support\u2014from prosecution and licensing to enforcement and commercialization\u2014in Indonesia\u2019s dynamic IP landscape. Our firm is widely recognized for its excellence, with accolades including <\/span><b>\u201cBest Boutique Law Firm in Indonesia\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and<\/span><b> \u201cIP Enforcement Firm\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">at the Indonesia Law Firm Awards 2025 by <\/span><b>Asia Business Law Journal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, as well as being listed as a <\/span><b>\u201cRecommended Firm 2024 \u2014 Indonesia\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> by <\/span><b>WTR 1000: The World\u2019s Leading Trademark Professionals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For more information, please visit: <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.affa.co.id\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">www.affa.co.id<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many business owners assume that as long as a name or logo has not been used by another party, it can be registered as a Trademark without any issue. In practice, however, during the examination process at the Indonesian Trademark Office (DGIP), there are several reasons why a Trademark Application may be rejected outright\u2014even without considering whether there is an identical or similar Trademark owned by another party. &nbsp; These reasons are known as \u201cabsolute grounds for refusal,\u201d as stipulated in Article 20 of Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications. &nbsp; Rejected Without Comparing Other Trademarks &nbsp; Absolute grounds for refusal relate to the substance of the Trademark itself, rather than conflicts with existing Trademarks. In practice, the most common reasons include: &nbsp; Being contrary to morality Being contrary to public order Being descriptive of the goods or services &nbsp; Understanding these three aspects is crucial so that business owners can avoid rejection from the very beginning. &nbsp; &nbsp; Trademarks Contrary to Morality &nbsp; One of the most fundamental reasons for rejecting a Trademark is when the sign is considered to violate societal norms of decency or morality. &nbsp; This may include the use of words, images, or symbols that: Contain pornographic elements Insult or demean certain groups Include vulgar or inappropriate language Potentially offend cultural or religious values &nbsp; The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the trademark registration system does not grant legal protection to signs that may harm social values within society. &nbsp; Examples include: Names containing vulgar expressions Logos depicting symbols that may insult certain beliefs &nbsp; Even if a sign may be considered creative from a marketing perspective, if it is deemed to violate public moral standards, the Trademark Application will most likely be rejected. &nbsp; &nbsp; Trademarks Contrary to Public Order &nbsp; In addition to morality concerns, DGIP may also reject signs considered to be contrary to public order. &nbsp; Public order relates to the broader interests of society and social stability. Therefore, Trademarks containing the following elements may be refused: &nbsp; The use of state symbols without authorization Unauthorized use of symbols of international organizations Elements that may provoke social or political conflict Signs that mislead the public regarding official authority or status &nbsp; For example, the use of national emblems, national flags, or official government symbols in a Trademark is generally not allowed without special permission. &nbsp; The reason is simple: the public may assume that the product has an official connection with a government institution or authority, when in fact it does not. &nbsp; &nbsp; Descriptive Trademarks &nbsp; Another very common reason for Trademark refusal is when the sign is descriptive. &nbsp; A Trademark is considered descriptive when it directly describes: the type of goods or services the quality of the product the function of the product the characteristics of the product the geographical origin of the product &nbsp; For example: The term \u201cDELICIOUS COFFEE\u201d for coffee products The term \u201cFRESH\u201d for beverages The term \u201cSUPER FAST DELIVERY\u201d for courier services &nbsp; The problem with descriptive Trademarks is that such terms must remain available for use by other businesses to describe their own products. &nbsp; If these common terms were granted exclusive rights to one party, other businesses would face difficulties describing their products fairly in the marketplace. &nbsp; Therefore, Indonesian Trademark Law requires that a Trademark must possess distinctiveness in order to be registered. &nbsp; Why Understanding Absolute Grounds for Refusal Matters &nbsp; By analyzing these three grounds for refusal, you can not only minimize the risk of rejection but also gain several advantages: &nbsp; The registration process can proceed more efficiently The risk of losing the registration fees can be minimized Your branding strategy can continue according to plan &nbsp; Should you have further questions regarding the absolute grounds for refusal in Trademark registration in Indonesia or abroad, feel free to contact us through the following channels and receive a FREE 15-minute consultation. &nbsp; \ud83d\udce9 E-Mail : trademark@affa.co.id \ud83d\udcde Book a Call : +62 21 83793812 \ud83d\udcac WhatsApp : +62 812 87000 889 &nbsp; About AFFA:\u00a0 Established in 1999, AFFA Intellectual Property Rights is an Indonesia-based boutique IP law firm serving international brands and innovators, offering full-service support\u2014from prosecution and licensing to enforcement and commercialization\u2014in Indonesia\u2019s dynamic IP landscape. Our firm is widely recognized for its excellence, with accolades including \u201cBest Boutique Law Firm in Indonesia\u201d and \u201cIP Enforcement Firm\u201d at the Indonesia Law Firm Awards 2025 by Asia Business Law Journal, as well as being listed as a \u201cRecommended Firm 2024 \u2014 Indonesia\u201d by WTR 1000: The World\u2019s Leading Trademark Professionals. For more information, please visit: www.affa.co.id.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5893,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[81,102],"tags":[35,43,48,51,68,75,76,79,87,104,145,353,354,355,356,357,375],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5889"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5889"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5889\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5894,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5889\/revisions\/5894"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}