When Trademark Laws Work Against Brands: The Arc’teryx Indonesia Case

The world’s first unauthorized Arc’teryx store.

The Loophole That Brands Can’t Afford to Ignore

Arc’teryx has never officially launched in Indonesia. Yet, a gleaming Arc’teryx-branded store has opened in one of Bali’s most high-profile malls — Kuta Beachwalk — with another reportedly on the way in Jakarta. An Arc’teryx representative confirmed via email that the brand does not currently operate in Indonesia and that legal measures are being taken.

At first glance, calling these stores and their products “fake” seems like the natural response. But legally, in the eyes of the Indonesian government, they aren’t counterfeit— they’re a registered brand. That’s why the term unauthorized is more accurate here, and it’s what I’ll be using going forward.

But the deeper issue isn’t just about one rogue retailer—it’s about a system that allows this to happen in the first place.