Deputy Coordinating Minister For Human Rights: Revision Of Copyright Law Gives Legal Certainty About Royalties

JAKARTA - Deputy Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Wamenko Kumham Imipas) Otto Hasibuan assessed that the revision of the Copyright Law (UU) provides legal certainty regarding royalties, both for creators, communities, consumers, song users, cafes, and restaurants.

He said Law Number 28 of 2014 concerning Copyright had not clearly regulated royalties, one of which was related to the existence of a crime that was immediately imposed if there were no royalty payments.

"That must be firmness. It can't be like that," Otto said when met after the LAWASIA Belt and Road Initiative and Employment Law Conference 2025 event in Jakarta, Monday, August 11, reported by ANTARA.

Otto explained that based on the Copyright Law, entrepreneurs are required to pay royalties if they play songs in commercial public spaces, which have been collected by the National Collective Management Institute (LMKN).

But on the way, he continued, sometimes there are cases where not only LMKN collects royalties, but also songwriters.

Whereas based on the law, it is said that those who should collect royalties are LMKN, without requiring a power of attorney from the songwriter.

From there, royalties were distributed by LMKN to creators, singers, and owners of the rights related to the song being played.

"So there are those who don't clean up, right? It can't be determined," he said.

Otto said there were also problems regarding the obligation to pay royalties at an event, which should have been paid by the organizers, but were billed by several other parties to the song singer at the event.

Because, he hopes that the revision of the Copyright Law can be rushed by inviting all participants, both singers, creators, event organizers, and entrepreneurs.

In its discussion, the Deputy Coordinating Minister said that the government would also provide input regarding the revision of the Copyright Law later.

On the other hand, it is also hoped that there will be an explanation to the public regarding the payment of royalties for playing songs in commercial public spaces so as not to disturb the public.

"Because actually the one who is obliged to pay is the cafe or restaurant business actor," said Otto.