Trademark Opposition Services in Indonesia: Stop Conflicting Trademark Applications

If you come across another trademark application that looks similar to your brand—or if your own trademark application is being opposed—there’s a good chance you actually need trademark opposition services in Indonesia.

These services are used to file or handle objections against trademark applications that are currently published by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP/DJKI).
In simple terms, the goal is to stop problematic trademarks before they are officially registered and gain legal protection.

Why trademark opposition matters

In Indonesia, a trademark does not have to be identical to be rejected.
It is enough if the mark is considered to have “substantial similarity”—meaning that, as a whole, it looks, sounds, or feels similar to another trademark from the consumer’s perspective.

This is not just a matter of interpretation.
Under Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications, trademark applications must be refused if they have substantial similarity with another party’s trademark (Article 21(1)).

Another point that is often overlooked: opposition can only be filed during the publication period. Once that window closes, the remaining legal option is usually trademark cancellation—a process that is longer, more expensive, and far more complex.

What is assessed in a trademark opposition

In practice, DGIP examiners assess substantial similarity based on:

• visual appearance of the trademark,

• pronunciation or phonetic similarity, and

• conceptual meaning of the mark.

The analysis does not focus on minor differences. Instead, it looks at the dominant elements and overall impression of the trademarks. This approach is also confirmed in legal research by Andrew Wijaya (2025), which explains that both DGIP and the courts apply a visual–phonetic–conceptual test when deciding trademark oppositions.

That is why a trademark opposition is not simply about saying “these marks are similar”—it must be structured and proven through solid legal arguments.

Where trademark opposition services come in

In practice, trademark opposition services typically include:

• assessing whether the similarity between trademarks is legally significant,

• preparing legal arguments based on Article 21 of the Trademark Law,

• filing and handling the opposition directly with DGIP,

• and defending your trademark if it is opposed by another party.

Without clear and well-structured arguments, objections are often dismissed by examiners.

The role of AMR

AMR assists clients in filing and responding to trademark oppositions in Indonesia using a practical and realistic approach. The focus is not on legal theory alone, but on resolving potential trademark conflicts at the earliest possible stage, before they turn into lengthy trademark disputes.

What you should do next

If you are looking for trademark opposition services in Indonesia, what matters most is acting quickly, presenting the right legal arguments, and understanding how DGIP applies trademark law in practice. Opposition is the only mechanism available to stop a conflicting trademark before legal rights are formally granted.

Legal sources & references

• Law No. 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications (Article 21)

• Andrew Wijaya, Juridical Analysis of Substantial Similarity in Trademark Disputes, JIHHP Vol. 5 No. 6, 2025