The Protection of "Batik" Craft Under Geographical Indication : The Strategy for Developing Creative Industry in Indonesia

• Main Author: Mas Rahmah
• Format: Book Section PeerReviewed
• Language: English; English; Indonesian
• Published: WIPO Academy and the WTO 2017
• Subjects: K Law; K1401-1578 Intellectual property
• Online Access: http://repository.unair.ac.id/98940/1/7%20THE%20PROTECTION%20OF%20BATIK%20CRAFT_CREATIVE%20INDUSTRY%20IN%20INDONESIA.pdf; http://repository.unair.ac.id/98940/2/7t%20THE%20PROTECTION%20OF%20%E2%80%9CBATIK%E2%80%9D%20CRAFT%20UNDER%20GEOGRAPHICAL%20INDICATION_%20THE%20STRATEGY%20FOR%20DEVELOPING%20CREATIVE%20INDUSTRY%20IN%20INDONESIA.pdf; http://repository.unair.ac.id/98940/3/7%20PG%20kadep.pdf; http://repository.unair.ac.id/98940/; https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/wipo_wto_colloquium_2016_e.pdf
• Institution: Universitas Airlangga

This paper proposes that the techniques, symbolisms, philosophies and cultures surrounding hand-dyed cotton and silk garments, known as Indonesian should be protected as a Geographical Indication (GI). GIs are an effective way to promote products having unique characteristics which are influenced by their geographical origin. To support this proposition, this paper starts to describe Batik with its exotic characteristics, the inclusion of the craft as a GI and outlines the benefits of GI protection to the creative industry in Indonesia. However, this paper assumes that Batik protection under GI may present challenges since the process can be time-consuming, costly, require complicated procedures, multiform infrastructure and a diverse range of stakeholder’s involvement. The main obstacles to protecting Batikas a GI will likely be (a) registration; (b) maintaining the quality or characteristic; (c) promotion and marketing. Finally, the paper offers strategies to overcome these challenges in order to providecertain best practices for protecting Batikas a GI.