{"id":5910,"date":"2026-03-24T05:55:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T05:55:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/?p=5910"},"modified":"2026-03-24T05:55:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T05:55:49","slug":"can-you-protect-checkered-sarong-designs-under-indonesian-ip-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/2026\/03\/24\/can-you-protect-checkered-sarong-designs-under-indonesian-ip-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Protect Checkered Sarong Designs Under Indonesian IP Law?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sarong fabrics featuring checkered patterns and distinctive color combinations often serve as a unique identity of a particular region or brand. Due to their visual appeal and strong market demand, these designs are frequently commercialized. This raises an important question: can such patterns be protected as exclusive rights in Indonesia, and if so, under which type of Intellectual Property protection?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Available Forms of Protection in Indonesia<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Checkered patterns and color combinations on sarongs can be protected under Indonesian Intellectual Property law, depending on how they are created and used. The two most relevant forms of protection are Copyright and Industrial Design.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Protection as Copyright<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Under Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, protection is granted to artistic works, including motifs or designs with artistic value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sarong pattern may qualify for Copyright protection if it:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is created as an original artistic work;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrates creativity and uniqueness; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is not merely a common or repetitive pattern widely available in the market.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\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;\">A sarong motif specifically designed by a designer;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A pattern with a distinctive composition of lines and colors that reflects strong artistic character.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, the protection applies to the artistic motif itself, not the sarong product.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Protection as Industrial Design<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the pattern is applied to sarongs that are mass-produced and sold commercially, serving as part of the product\u2019s visual appearance and market appeal, then Industrial Design protection is more appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Under Law No. 31 of 2000 on Industrial Design<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the aesthetic appearance of a product\u2014such as compositions of lines and color combinations\u2014can be protected as an Industrial Design.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this context, the protection covers the appearance of the sarong as a commercial product.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Which Protection Is More Appropriate?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both forms of protection are available, and the choice depends on the intended strategy:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Aspect<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Copyright<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Industrial Design<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Object<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artistic Work (Motif)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Product Appearance<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protection<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Automatic (registration optional but recommended)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Must be Registered<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requirement<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originality<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Novelty<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Term<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life of the author + 70 years<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10 years<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business Value<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More Abstract<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More Specific &amp; Practical<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Can Both Protections Be Used?<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes. A combined strategy is often the most effective. For example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The original motif created by a designer can be protected under Copyright;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once applied to sarongs and commercialized, the design can also be registered as an Industrial Design.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This approach ensures long-term protection of the artistic work, while also securing strong commercial protection for the product.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it is important to ensure that the design is actively used in business, so that the investment in registration or recordation provides real value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Do you have a unique motif you want to protect? Contact us through the following channels and get 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;\">: emirsyah.dinar@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>Sarong fabrics featuring checkered patterns and distinctive color combinations often serve as a unique identity of a particular region or brand. Due to their visual appeal and strong market demand, these designs are frequently commercialized. This raises an important question: can such patterns be protected as exclusive rights in Indonesia, and if so, under which type of Intellectual Property protection? &nbsp; Available Forms of Protection in Indonesia &nbsp; Checkered patterns and color combinations on sarongs can be protected under Indonesian Intellectual Property law, depending on how they are created and used. The two most relevant forms of protection are Copyright and Industrial Design. &nbsp; Protection as Copyright &nbsp; Under Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright, protection is granted to artistic works, including motifs or designs with artistic value. &nbsp; A sarong pattern may qualify for Copyright protection if it: Is created as an original artistic work; Demonstrates creativity and uniqueness; and Is not merely a common or repetitive pattern widely available in the market. &nbsp; Examples include: A sarong motif specifically designed by a designer; A pattern with a distinctive composition of lines and colors that reflects strong artistic character. &nbsp; In this case, the protection applies to the artistic motif itself, not the sarong product. &nbsp; Protection as Industrial Design &nbsp; If the pattern is applied to sarongs that are mass-produced and sold commercially, serving as part of the product\u2019s visual appearance and market appeal, then Industrial Design protection is more appropriate. &nbsp; Under Law No. 31 of 2000 on Industrial Design, the aesthetic appearance of a product\u2014such as compositions of lines and color combinations\u2014can be protected as an Industrial Design. &nbsp; In this context, the protection covers the appearance of the sarong as a commercial product. &nbsp; Which Protection Is More Appropriate? Both forms of protection are available, and the choice depends on the intended strategy: Aspect Copyright Industrial Design Object Artistic Work (Motif) Product Appearance Protection Automatic (registration optional but recommended) Must be Registered Requirement Originality Novelty Term Life of the author + 70 years 10 years Business Value More Abstract More Specific &amp; Practical &nbsp; Can Both Protections Be Used? &nbsp; Yes. A combined strategy is often the most effective. For example: The original motif created by a designer can be protected under Copyright; Once applied to sarongs and commercialized, the design can also be registered as an Industrial Design. &nbsp; This approach ensures long-term protection of the artistic work, while also securing strong commercial protection for the product. &nbsp; However, it is important to ensure that the design is actively used in business, so that the investment in registration or recordation provides real value. &nbsp; Do you have a unique motif you want to protect? Contact us through the following channels and get a FREE 15-minute consultation: &nbsp; \ud83d\udce9 E-Mail : emirsyah.dinar@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":5913,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[81,158,212],"tags":[16,35,43,48,51,57,58,68,75,76,77,79,87,104,114,115,116,139,145,163,177,251,364,378,379],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5910"}],"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=5910"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5914,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5910\/revisions\/5914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}