Geographical indications, heritage, and decentralization policies: the case of Indonesia

This chapter examines geographical indications (GIs) in a ‘contested environment’ – that of Indonesia’s extremely complex decentralisation policies. It shows that decentralisation in Indonesia leads to sometimes difficult bargaining processes between the central government, regional governments and producer communities about the nature and use of intellectual property laws related to tradition and heritage, including GIs. It examines the GI registration process and shows that it is ultimately central government controlled with relatively limited roles for regional players. The important question in a country that has encouraged large scale transmigration for many decades is just who will be allowed to operate in the “cultural spaces” that GIs demarcate for purposes of development and increased profits from local products and how will the social and economic benefits be defined. Decision makers at national, regional and local level may well have different ideas in this regard. The chapter closer examines two examples of registered GIs and asks in how far they will be able to fulfil some of the high hopes that the government has with regards to the economic and social benefits of GIs.