BADUNG – On August 20, 2025, the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law (Kanwil Kemenkum) demonstrated its commitment to protecting intellectual property (IP) for vulnerable communities, including people with disabilities. As a concrete manifestation, the Head of the Regional Office, Eem Nurmanah, accompanied by the Head of the P3H Division, Mustiqo Vitra Ardhiansyah, and his staff went directly to the field to provide assistance in trademark and copyright registration to I Gede Agus Mertayasa, a disabled painter in Badung Regency.
The mentoring activity took place at the residence of I Gede Agus Mertayasa in Buduk Village, Mengwi District. The delegation from the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights was warmly welcomed by Agus Mertayasa and his mother. On the occasion, the Head of the Regional Office, Eem Nurmanah, conveyed the purpose of her visit, which was to provide full support and assistance to ensure Agus Mertayasa's paintings are legally protected.
In a warm interaction, the Head of the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Eem Nurmanah, emphasized the importance of this "jemput bola" (outreach) program. "We are currently actively promoting intellectual property registration, especially for vulnerable groups and people with disabilities in Bali," said Eem Nurmanah. "This assistance is a concrete manifestation of our commitment to ensuring there are no obstacles for artists with disabilities in registering their works, so that their enthusiasm for creating continues to be stimulated."
In response to the significant attention from the Bali Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, I Gede Agus Mertayasa's mother expressed her deep gratitude. She hopes that with the trademark and copyright registration, her son's work will become more widely known. This hope is not only for I Gede Agus Mertayasa himself, but also to motivate other artists with disabilities to continue creating despite their limitations.
During the visit, Eem Nurmanah and her staff also had the opportunity to directly admire various paintings by I Gede Agus Mertayasa, filled with beauty and diverse themes. The Head of the Regional Office expressed his high appreciation for the artist's extraordinary talent. In addition to copyright on the paintings, assistance also included registration of the AM Art Collection (Agus Mertayasa Art Collection) trademark, which is expected to establish a strong identity for Agus's works in the future.
Overall, this activity was a success and went smoothly, marking a significant step forward in efforts to protect intellectual property for artists with disabilities in Bali. It is hoped that similar programs can continue to reach more artists and creators, ensuring that every work is valued and protected in accordance with applicable law. (*)