Singapore Companies Shouldn’t Ignore Annual Working Statement in Indonesia

annual Working Statement obligation

If your company holds patents in Indonesia, there’s a compliance requirement many companies underestimate, the annual Working Statement obligation.

Under Indonesian Patent Law No. 65 of 2025, all patent holders must submit an annual statement of patent implementation for every patent currently in force—regardless of when the patent was granted.

At first glance, the requirement may seem straightforward. But for Singapore-based companies managing regional IP portfolios, it can easily be overlooked without proper tracking.

Why this requirement matters

The annual statement must confirm whether your patent is being “worked” in Indonesia.

This includes activities such as:

  • manufacturing and commercialising the patented invention
  • manufacturing without commercialisation
  • importing the patented product or process
  • licensing the patent
  • or declaring that the patent is not being worked

The statement must be submitted to the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) using the official template.

Key filing points to keep in mind

  • Who must file: All patent holders with patents in force in Indonesia
  • Deadline: Annually, on or before the anniversary of the patent’s filing date
    • For PCT patents, this follows the international filing date
    • For divisional patents, this follows the parent filing date
  • Submission: A colour-scanned signed statement is sufficient
  • No additional requirements: No Power of Attorney, supporting documents, or notarisation required
  • Signatory: Must be signed by an authorised company officer (not licensees)

Because each patent may have a different filing date, tracking deadlines across multiple jurisdictions can become complex—particularly for companies managing portfolios from Singapore.

No immediate penalty—but still important

There is currently no direct penalty for failing to submit the annual Working Statement.

However, continued non-compliance may be considered in legal situations such as:

  • compulsory licensing proceedings
  • or patent invalidation actions

In such cases, authorities may assess whether you actively use your patent and declare it properly.

While this obligation may seem administrative, it can still affect your position if your patent is challenged.

Common gaps for foreign patent holders

Singapore-based companies often encounter challenges such as:

  • missing deadlines due to decentralised portfolio management
  • uncertainty around how to declare patent use
  • misalignment in authorised signatories
  • lack of internal tracking aligned with Indonesian filing requirements

Even a simple annual filing can become inconsistent without a structured compliance process.

Keeping compliance manageable

In practice, many companies simplify this process by:

  • aligning the annual statement with renewal fee timelines
  • maintaining internal tracking for each patent’s filing anniversary
  • you prepare the authorised signatory in advance

Consistency is key to avoiding gaps.

Why local support can help

While the filing itself is relatively straightforward, ensuring that:

  • you submit statements on time
  • your declarations accurately reflect patent use
  • you follow Indonesian requirements correctly

…can help reduce compliance risks over time.

For Singapore-based companies, staying on top of the annual Working Statement obligation in Indonesia is not just about meeting a formal requirement—it’s about maintaining a stronger and more defensible patent position.

By putting the right process in place early, you can manage the annual Working Statement obligation more consistently and avoid unnecessary risks over time.

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