In our previous news alerts dated 13th February 2019 and 28th September 2018 on non-payment of outstanding patent annuities in Indonesia, we reported that the Indonesia Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) had started issuing formal notices to some patent owners, informing them that they have outstanding annuities and failure to pay the outstanding annuities within six months will result in the DGIP refusing new patent applications. The DGIP subsequently issued a circular indicating that the initial six months deadline has been extended by another six months because not all affected patent owners are aware of their obligation to pay the outstanding annuities and the authorities require more time to properly administer collection of the outstanding annuities
The DGIP has now issued another circular, allowing for a further extension of time until 31 July 2020 to pay the outstanding annuities. For patent owners with outstanding patent annuities to avail themselves to the extended deadline, a "commitment letter" to pay the outstanding annuities by 31 July 2020 has to be submitted to the DGIP by 31 January 2020.
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