IKEA loses right to trade mark in Indonesia

Following the publishing of a ruling made last year, furniture giant IKEA has lost a battle to register its name as a trade mark in Indonesia.

The country’s highest court ruled that the trade mark was owned by a local company therefore not free for registration.

The Swedish retailer argued that they had registered the mark in 2010, however this was dismissed as the court stated it had been removed from registration as they had not used it for three consecutive years.

Therefore this left it free for the local company Indonesian rattan furniture retailer PT Ratania Khatulistiwa to register it, which they did in 2013.

This is a blow for the Swedish retailer who has a store open near the capital, Jakarta. This could jeopardise their success in any expansion in Indonesia.

By Ellis Sweetenham