Madrid Protocol Implementation Forum

The recent Madrid Protocol forum brought together global and local IP professionals to reflect on Indonesia’s progress since joining in 2018. With a modest filing amount of 674, there is a clear need for simpler procedures, stronger institutional capacity, and greater business awareness.

Experts from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shared valuable best practices while highlighting opportunities for Indonesian brands to grow internationally through streamlined filings. Representing SKC Law, Co-Founder Nidya Kalangie actively participated in the event to strengthen our expertise in guiding clients toward effective strategic next steps.

Forum’s Overview and SKC Law’s Role

The forum served as a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange on the Madrid Protocol – a centralised system for international trademark registration. With Indonesia having joined the Protocol in 2018 via Presidential Regulation No. 92 of 2017, the event aimed to address local implementation challenges directly from WIPO and EUIPO. The forum highlighted the need for capacity building and procedural clarity to support Indonesian entities in leveraging the Madrid System effectively.

Madrid Protocol Forum Takeaways

Several insights from the presentations and technical sessions:

• Streamlined Filing

The Madrid System offers a cost-effective, centralised filing process with broad geographic coverage. Ideal for export-oriented Indonesian brands.

• Procedural Nuances

DGIP’s role as the Office of Origin involves formal examination and coordination with WIPO on irregularities, dependency periods, and transformation procedures.

• Best Practices

EUIPO emphasised the importance of using Nice Classification terms, conducting pre-filing searches, and understanding refusal grounds such as descriptiveness and lack of distinctiveness.

• Strategic Tools

Resources like TMView, Madrid Monitor, and the Madrid Application Assistant were introduced to support applicants in navigating international filings.

These insights are particularly relevant to SKC Law’s clients, many of whom are multinational corporations and IP service firms – focusing on attaining efficient and reliable trademark protection across jurisdictions.

Reflections for IP Stakeholders

For Indonesian corporations, the Madrid Protocol presents a gateway to global markets. However, procedural complexity and limited local capacity has its challenges. Whether you’re a corporation looking to expand your trademark portfolio or a firm needing local expertise in Indonesia, SKC Law is here to help.

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