Justification Of IP Protection And Recent Developments In Indonesia

The World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO") first commemorated April 26 as World IP Day in 2001. However, intellectual property ("IP") dates back much further, to at least Gutenberg's printing press, and it has rapidly developed ever since and become embedded in many aspects of everyday life.

This article is a reminder to relevant stakeholders of the importance of IP and a look at recent developments related to IP in Indonesia.

Justification of IP Protection

First, we will look at the justifications for IP rights to subsist. There are several different theories, including (i) the natural rights theory of John Locke that holds that IP rights should be granted to authors, inventors, creators, and designers for their intellectual labours; (ii) the personality theory of Hegel that views IP rights as beneficial to safeguard one's self-actualisation, personal expression, dignity and recognition of said individual; and (iii) human rights theory, which