Largest Indonesian startup faces US$1.7 bil copyright suit

JAKARTA (Jan 3): Gojek faces a 24.9 trillion rupiah (US$1.7 billion) lawsuit for alleged copyright infringement, according to an extraordinary claim filed New Year’s Eve against Indonesia’s largest technology startup. The suit was filed to Central Jakarta Commercial Court on Dec 31 by Hasan Azhari, without publishing the details of the dispute. He also named Nadiem Makarim, Gojek’s founder and now a minister overseeing several briefs including education and technology, in the suit and seeks 10 billion rupiah in damages from him. “We have not received any official notification relating to this issue, but we believe this claim to be without merit,” said Gojek spokeswoman Nila Marita. The merged entity is seeking a valuation of US$25 billion to US$30 billion ahead of planned initial public offerings in Indonesia and the US.