Indonesia’s Directorate-Genearl of Intellectual Property plans to introduce the WIPO File Tool to improve efficiency in trademark prosecution.
In essence, the WIPO File Tool is everything we might expect from an e-filing system, minus online payments. The platform can be developed into an e-filing system when an online payment facility becomes available - and we understand this is not far away.
The way the WIPO File Tool will work for trademark applications is:
- IP Consultants will be granted secure online access;
- application details can be submitted online by IP Consultants; and
- payment can be attended to at the Trademark Office as per current practice.
The system will also accommodate online editing (saving and amending drafts, up until the application is submitted), and online post-filing requests (changes of name, address, etc.). WIPO is customising the system to accommodate local practice requirements, and expects to complete this work within 6 months.
The Trademark Office hosted a seminar to socialise the new system on 6 November 2014 (see photo, from DGIP blog). According to the DGIP blog, around 40 IP Consultants attended the session. As did representatives of our Trademarks Team. At this session, it was confirmed that online payment will eventually be accommodated.
The DGIP plans to introduce the WIPO File Tool after implementing regulations are passed by the Ministry of Law. Although historically intellectual property laws and regulations have not been prioritised, the new administration under president Joko Widodo is making all the right noises about developing Indonesia’s creative economy and we hope to see better performance from legislators. Further, it’s an obvious way to reduce administrative burdens on the Trademark Office and clear backlog before an expected increase in numbers of applications after the Madrid Protocol is introduced. Potentially, we could see online trademark prosecution before the end of 2015.