The landscape of brand protection in Southeast Asia is witnessing another major legal battle. A high-profile trademark dispute over a well-known storage battery brand is currently under trial at the Central Jakarta District Court. This case serves as a crucial reminder for global businesses on why securing robust trademark registration services is vital when expanding […]
The landscape of brand protection in Southeast Asia is witnessing another major legal battle. A high-profile trademark dispute over a well-known storage battery brand is currently under trial at the Central Jakarta District Court. This case serves as a crucial reminder for global businesses on why securing robust trademark registration services is vital when expanding into the Indonesian market.
The legal conflict involves Exide Industries Limited, a manufacturing giant from India, acting as the plaintiff, and a local Indonesian businessman as the defendant. Under case number 117/Pdt.Sus-HKI/Merek/2023/PN Niaga Jkt.Pst, the plaintiff has filed a formal cancellation lawsuit.
Exide Industries Limited is no small player. The company operates ten international-standard factories, exports its products to over 60 countries, and boasts a massive global network. In this lawsuit, the Indian enterprise is seeking to establish its definitive ownership and first-use rights of the SF SONIC trademark. Furthermore, they are demanding its official recognition as a well-known trademark in Indonesia.
Both parties hold protections for goods under Class 9, which covers essential electrical components such as accumulators, car batteries, lithium-ion batteries, UPS devices, inverters, and solar cells.
The plaintiff argues that the local businessman registered the mark in bad faith. Because the defendant’s logo and name are substantially or entirely similar to the plaintiff’s original mark, Exide Industries is asking the court to declare the local registration null and void, whilst also seeking damages.
As the case is still in its early court hearing stages, the final verdict remains to be seen. However, this dispute highlights a common pitfall for international corporations.
To prevent costly litigation, foreign entities must work closely with an experienced Indonesia intellectual property law firm. Navigating the “first-to-file” principle in Indonesia requires strategic planning, thorough trademark searches, and proactive defensive filings. By hiring a professional intellectual property consultant Indonesia, companies can shield their brand equity before market entry, ensuring that their corporate energy is spent on growth rather than courtroom battles.
(source: http://sipp.pn-jakartapusat.go.id; https://www.exideindustries.com)
