Tomorrow's First Meeting of Copyright Law Revision Drafting Team, Discussing Royalty Issues

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (DPR), Willy Aditya, revealed that the Copyright Law Revision Drafting Team will hold its first meeting tomorrow to discuss the problem map for the song royalty controversy. This team includes the DPR, the government, the National Student Council (LMKN), and musicians.

"We plan to meet tomorrow to create a problem map, so we can really see where this is at. If it doesn't reach the level of the law, even if we discuss the law, why bother? This only reaches the field, why bother going to the gate," Willy said at the DPR building in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 26.

"So, we'll try to meet tomorrow to categorize this problem. Is it an institutional issue, an administrative issue, or a fundamental one? Fundamental is the law, but the law itself has been included in the priority national legislation program," he continued.

Willy explained that copyright issues fall under Commission XIII of the DPR because they partner with the Ministry of Law, which oversees IPR.

Therefore, if the royalty issue is only at the ministerial regulation level, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights will issue it.

"We're open, and we're actually happy to be given this task. But again, if the discussion is like what Ahmad Dhani conveyed, this is just a matter of misinterpretation of the existing Ministerial Regulation. We'll examine it tomorrow. We'll see where it lies, or if there's anything missing, and we can update it," said Willy.

"So, copyright itself has a broader perspective, including inventors. So it's not just music; it also includes science, and so on. It will certainly be more complex, but if it's just like this, if it's sufficient at the ministerial regulation level, we'll resolve it immediately," he said.

Therefore, Willy said, the drafting team will first review the existing regulations in the Copyright Law to determine whether a comprehensive revision is needed or just a ministerial regulation is necessary.

"Yes, that's why we'll examine it tomorrow. We've invited all the members of the team that came yesterday. So, we've invited all the creators, singers, event organizers, and especially yesterday, we've invited all the LMKs," said the NasDem legislator.

Willy believes the music association Wahana Musik Indonesia (WAMI) also needs to be audited to eliminate public fear of playing music in the public domain.

“Look, tomorrow we'll hear everything. Yesterday's consultation was very limited. Earlier, Dhani also said, 'How many years have there been some naughty people, quoting here and there?' That's what we also need to audit. Why is that? The principle is that we shouldn't make the public afraid," he said.

“People are scared, sir, it's nice to play music here, and they come and play it, and they come and ask for payment. This is not allowed. The House of Representatives (DPR) is committed to completing the process so that people who play music are not afraid," Willy concluded.