Perlindungan Hukum Hak atas Merek Internasional di Indonesia

Abstract. Legal protection of international trademarks has become a crucial issue in the era of globalization due to conflicts between the First to File and First to Use principles, as well as state obligations under international agreements such as the TRIPS Agreement and the Madrid Protocol. The “Denza” trademark dispute between BYD and PT Worcas Nusantara Abadi illustrates this issue, where an internationally recognized trademark encountered administrative obstacles in Indonesia. This situation creates tension between administrative legal certainty and substantive justice, forming the background of this research. This study aims to analyze the regulation of trademark rights under international law and to examine the legal protection of international trademarks in Indonesia through a case study of the “Denza” dispute. The scope of the research includes Law Number 20 of 2016 on Trademarks and Geographical Indications, the provisions of TRIPS and the Madrid Protocol, and relevant court decisions. The research employs a normative juridical method using statutory, conceptual, and case study approaches. The results indicate that the application of the First to File principle and strict administrative requirements create obstacles to the protection of well-known trademarks. BYD’s claim was rejected due to formal errors and recorded ownership transfer, resulting in limited consideration of its international reputation. Therefore, harmonization of national law with international standards, stronger substantive examination by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property, and a judicial approach that prioritizes substantive justice are necessary. Abstrak. Perlindungan hukum terhadap merek internasional menjadi isu penting di era globalisasi akibat benturan antara prinsip First to File dan First to Use, serta kewajiban negara dalam perjanjian internasional seperti TRIPS Agreement dan Protokol Madrid. Sengketa merek “Denza” antara BYD dan PT Worcas Nusantara Abadi menggambarkan problematika tersebut, ketika merek yang telah dikenal secara internasional menghadapi kendala administratif di Indonesia. Kondisi ini menimbulkan ketegangan antara kepastian hukum administratif dan keadilan substantif, yang menjadi latar belakang penelitian ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaturan hak atas merek berdasarkan hukum internasional serta mengkaji perlindungan hukum merek internasional di Indonesia melalui studi kasus sengketa “Denza”. Ruang lingkup penelitian mencakup Undang-Undang Nomor 20 Tahun 2016 tentang Merek dan Indikasi Geografis, ketentuan TRIPS dan Protokol Madrid, serta putusan pengadilan terkait sengketa tersebut. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah yuridis normatif dengan pendekatan perundang-undangan, konseptual, dan studi kasus. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan prinsip First to File dan ketentuan administratif yang ketat menyebabkan hambatan perlindungan merek terkenal. Gugatan BYD ditolak karena kesalahan formil dan pengalihan kepemilikan yang tercatat, sehingga reputasi internasional kurang dipertimbangkan. Oleh karena itu diperlukan harmonisasi hukum nasional dengan standar internasional, peningkatan pemeriksaan substantif oleh DJKI, dan pendekatan peradilan yang lebih berorientasi pada keadilan substantif.