Jamu and the Protection of Traditional Knowledge in Indonesia Legal Perspective

The protection of traditional medicines such as jamu presents a complex legal challenge in Indonesia, where the Patent Law (Law No. 13/2016) requires novelty, inventive steps, and industrial applicability, criteria that often exclude community-based traditional knowledge. This creates tension with the objectives of the TRIPS Agreement, particularly Article 7, which seeks to balance innovation with the transfer and dissemination of knowledge for social and economic welfare. The objective of this study is to analyze the adequacy of Indonesia’s current patent regime in safeguarding traditional medicines and to assess the necessity of a sui generis legal framework. The research adopts a normative juridical method, examining international instruments such as TRIPS and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), alongside national regulations, including the Patent Law and the draft Bill on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions (PTEBT). Results The results reveal that patents, being individualistic and profit-oriented, are structurally incompatible with traditional knowledge, which is communal, intergenerational, and tied to cultural identity. Comparative insig hts from the Philippines and other jurisdictions further demonstrate that alternative mechanisms such as traditional knowledge registries and sui generis protection are more effective in preventing biopiracy and ensuring equitable benefit-sharing. The study concludes that while the patent system contributes to innovation, it cannot adequately safeguard traditional medicines. Therefore, Indonesia must accelerate the establishment of a sui generis regime that harmonizes with TRIPS flexibilities while recognizing local wisdom as a vital national asset.