On October 2, 2017, Indonesia deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol at the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization. The Madrid Protocol will thus enter into force for Indonesia on January 2, 2018.
This brings to 100 the number of members of the Madrid system.
Here are some examples of what will become possible on January 2, 2018:
- A holder of an existing International Trademark Registration will, from January 2, be able to file a Subsequent Designation to Indonesia, thus extending trademark protection to Indonesia; and
- An entity in Indonesia will be able to file an International Trademark Application from January 2; and
- An entity outside of Indonesia, filing an International Trademark Application on or after January 2, will be able to designate Indonesia.
It will be recalled that the Madrid system offers a way to file a trademark application in many countries through a single filing. The Madrid application process has the potential to provide efficiency and cost savings compared with legacy filing approaches. But some of the benefits of the Madrid system accrue long after the application is filed and indeed long after protection is granted. As a first example, when the time comes to carry out a ten-year renewal, the renewal may be carried out as to all designated countries by a single electronic filing at the IB. As a second example, if the holder finds the need to record a name change or assignment or address change, the recordation may be accomplished by means of a single very efficient and economical filing at the IB.
It will be recalled that WIPO provides a very convenient e-filing system for subsequent designations. This e-filing system will be a convenient way to extend protection to Indonesia, starting from January 2, for holders of existing International Registrations.
As is the choice for most countries joining Madrid Protocol, Indonesia selected 18 months (rather than the default 12 months) for its period of automatic protection.
Indonesia joined the Patent Cooperation Treaty on September 5, 1997.
The two-letter code for Indonesia is “ID”.