Indonesia Sets a Strategy to Remove the Status of Priority Watch List

Indonesia is still on a Priority Watch List (PWL) and Watch List (WL) since 1989. No exception this year, Special 301 Reports issued by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on April 28, 2022, also included Indonesia in the PWL.

A total of 8 (eight) United States Industrial Associations (Business Actors) who are members of the USTR provide PWL status to Indonesia. But on the other hand, it also provides recommendations for strengthening law enforcement in the sector of Intellectual Property (IP) from various aspects.

To strategize IP enforcement, the Directorate General Intellectual Property (DGIP) – Indonesian Ministry of Justice and Human Rights held a follow-up meeting from the previous meeting with the United States Industrial Associations on July 18, 2022.

During the meeting, DGIP wanted to immediately set a strategy so that Indonesia could remove the PWL status. According to DGIP, the status of PWL and WL since 1989 will affect the trust of other countries over Indonesia which will negatively affect many sectors.

After strengthening the IP enforcement system through the formation of the IP Task Force (Operational Task Force) by 9 (nine) related ministries/institutions, DGIP will set a strategy to follow up on recommendations from the USTR.

The United States Embassy welcomed Indonesia’s commitment to follow up on the USTR’s recommendations immediately. The embassy is ready to facilitate the IP Task Force meeting with the USTR and several US industrial associations.

From January to mid-July 2022, there were 27 (twenty-seven) cases of IP infringement that had been and are being handled. Of the total, 14 (fourteen) of them are trademark disputes, 8 (eight) copyrighted disputes, 4 (four) industrial design disputes, and 1 (one) patent dispute.

Together with the IP Task Force, DGIP is committed to enforcing IP protection to secure the rights of creators in Indonesia. More broadly, IP enforcement aims to increase international trust in Indonesia.

The IP Task Force consists of Law Enforcement Agencies and related Ministries/Institutions namely: DGIP of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; Criminal Investigation Agency of Indonesian Police (Bareskrim); Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the Ministry of Finance; Directorate General of Information Application of the Ministry of Communication and Information; Drug and Food Control Agency; Ministry of Trade; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Health; and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.

Source: www.dgip.go.id

Photo by Wallace Chuck www.pexels.com

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Nugra & Partners – Intellectual Property Consultant

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