PENYULUHAN HUKUM MENGENAI URGENSI PENDAFTARAN MEREK DAN PERLINDUNGAN HAK KEKAYAAN INTELEKTUAL BAGI PELAKU UMKM DIDESA SUNGAI ALAI KECAMATAN TEBO TENGAH KABUPATEN TEBO

Abstract

The Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector is a significant economic pillar in Sungai Alai Village, Tebo Tengah District, Tebo Regency. However, most MSME actors in the area still focus on production and conventional marketing aspects without paying attention to the legal aspects of intellectual property, particularly trademark registration. This lack of legal awareness makes local products vulnerable to claims by other parties and hinders competitiveness in a broader market. This community service activity aims to provide a legal understanding regarding the urgency of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection and trademark registration procedures for local business actors.

The implementation method of this service was carried out through participatory legal counseling methods (lectures, interactive discussions, and mentoring). The activity stages included field observations to identify the potential of village superior products, delivery of materials regarding the function of trademarks as business identities, technical procedures for registration through the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) online system, and the economic benefits of trademark legal protection.

The results of this activity indicate a significant increase in understanding among MSME actors in Sungai Alai Village regarding the importance of trademarks as intangible assets. Before the activity, the majority of business actors considered trademark registration a complicated and expensive process. Following the counseling, participants realized that trademarks function not only as product differentiators but also as legal protection against potential future disputes. As a follow-up, several MSME actors have begun initiating trademark name checks in the intellectual property database. The conclusion of this service emphasizes that continuous legal education and mentoring from relevant institutions are highly necessary to ensure the business sustainability of the Sungai Alai Village community so that they have legal and competitive edge at both regional and national levels.