Indonesia Accelerates Trademark Registration: Substantive Examination May Now Be Completed Within 30 Days

Indonesia has introduced a significant procedural reform that may substantially accelerate the trademark registration process. The change arises from Minister of Law Regulation No. 5 of 2026 on Trademark Registration, which refines the timeframe for substantive examination of trademark applications.

The regulation forms part of a broader legislative trajectory aimed at improving the efficiency of intellectual property administration in Indonesia. In particular, the reform builds upon the earlier amendments introduced by the Job Creation Law (Law No. 6 of 2023), which had already shortened the timeframe for substantive examination under the Indonesian trademark system.

Taken together, these developments signal a clear policy direction toward a faster and more streamlined trademark registration process.

Substantive Examination under the 2016 Trademark Law

Under Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (“DGIP”) was granted a relatively lengthy period to conduct substantive examination.

Article 23 paragraph (5) of the law provides that:

“Substantive examination as referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4) shall be completed within a maximum period of 150 (one hundred and fifty) days.”

Accordingly, once a trademark application entered the substantive examination stage, DGIP had up to 150 days to determine whether the mark satisfied the registrability requirements under Indonesian trademark law.

This examination period alone could extend to approximately five months, which in practice contributed significantly to the overall duration of the trademark registration process.

Procedural Reform under the Job Creation Law

A significant procedural acceleration was introduced through Law No. 6 of 2023 concerning the Job Creation Law, which amended the substantive examination timeframe.

Article 23 paragraph (6) now provides that:

“Substantive examination shall be completed within a maximum period of 90 (ninety) days.”

This amendment reduced the examination period by 40 percent, representing an important policy shift toward improving administrative efficiency within Indonesia's intellectual property system.

The reform was introduced as part of a broader effort to streamline regulatory procedures and strengthen Indonesia's investment climate.

Minister of Law Regulation No. 5 of 2026

Further procedural clarification was subsequently introduced through Minister of Law Regulation No. 5 of 2026 on Trademark Registration.

The regulation distinguishes between applications that proceed without opposition and those that are subject to opposition during the publication period.

Uncontested Applications

Article 39 paragraph (2) provides that where no opposition is filed during the publication period, the substantive examination must be completed within 30 days from the end of the publication period.

This provision represents a substantial procedural acceleration compared with the previous framework.

In practical terms, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property may now complete substantive examination for uncontested applications within approximately one month, thereby enabling the registration process to proceed significantly faster than under the earlier regulatory regime.

Applications Subject to Opposition

Where an opposition is filed during the publication period, Article 40 paragraph (2) provides that substantive examination must be completed within 90 days following the expiry of the deadline for submitting counter-statements.

This distinction reflects the additional procedural considerations involved when objections or competing trademark rights must be evaluated during the examination process.

Nevertheless, even in contested cases, the examination period remains aligned with the 90-day framework introduced by the Job Creation Law.

Regulatory Trend Toward Faster Trademark Examination

These successive reforms demonstrate a clear regulatory trajectory toward accelerating trademark examination in Indonesia.

The maximum timeframe for substantive examination has progressively decreased from 150 days under the 2016 Trademark Law, to 90 days under the Job Creation Law, and now potentially 30 days for uncontested applications under Minister of Law Regulation No. 5 of 2026.

This gradual reduction reflects the Indonesian government's intention to modernize its intellectual property administration and improve procedural efficiency within the trademark system.

Strategic Implications for International Trademark Filings

For international brand owners and trademark practitioners, the reform may have several practical implications.

First, the shortened examination timeframe may allow applicants to secure trademark registration considerably faster than under the previous regulatory framework, particularly in cases where no opposition is filed.

Second, faster examination may provide greater predictability in trademark registration timelines, which is often a critical consideration for multinational companies managing trademark portfolios across multiple jurisdictions.

Third, the procedural reform may enhance Indonesia's attractiveness as a jurisdiction for trademark protection, as a more efficient examination process enables brand owners to obtain enforceable rights within a shorter period.

From a broader perspective, the reform also reflects Indonesia's continuing efforts to align its intellectual property administration with international expectations for modern trademark systems.

Concluding Remarks

The introduction of Minister of Law Regulation No. 5 of 2026 marks an important procedural development in Indonesia's trademark system.

By reducing the timeframe for substantive examination from 150 days under the 2016 Trademark Law to potentially only 30 days for uncontested applications, the regulation represents a significant step toward improving the efficiency of trademark registration.

For international trademark practitioners and brand owners, this development signals a faster and more streamlined pathway to securing trademark protection in Indonesia.