On 2 October 2017, Indonesia became the 100th member of the
Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the
International Registration of Marks (the “Madrid
Protocol”). It is expected the Madrid Protocol will
enter into force for Indonesia on 2 January 2018.
Indonesia is the eighth member of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) to join the Madrid Protocol and follows
closely on the heels of Thailand which joined in August 2017.
It will be possible to designate Thailand against new and existing
International Registrations from 7 November 2017.
More countries are also in line to join the Madrid Protocol, as
the Hong Kong government announced earlier this year that it
proposes to adopt the Madrid Protocol following a public
consultation. It is anticipated that brand owners will be able to
designate Hong Kong against International Registrations possibly as
early as 2019.