LMKN Commissioner Calls Direct License Not In Accordance With Copyright Law

Marcell Siahaan as the Commissioner of LMKN (doc. Special)

JAKARTA - Marcell Siahaan in his capacity as Commissioner of the National Collective Management Institute (LMKN) said the application of direct license for song and music royalties was not in accordance with Law No. 28 of 2014 concerning Copyright.

According to Marcell, the direct license that some songwriters call for is not the way royalties are paid for in the law. He assessed that the application of direct license could actually hamper the development of the national music ecosystem.

"Why is it contrary to the law? Because our law does not adhere to the system. What our law does not recommend is direct licensing," Marcell Siahaan told the media crew in Kuningan, South Jakarta on Wednesday, January 10.

Karena itu tadi, menyulitkan. Lalu kemudian orang-orang (Pemcipta) nanti bisa dengan segala ngetok orang-user) dengan apapun tari yang dia mau, sambungnya.

Marcell advises songwriters who really want the direct license system to be implemented to replace the Law which is currently in positive effect.

"Because of that, if we prioritize direct licensing, first is against the law," said Marcell.

"Yes, it's up to you if you want to use direct licensing, but change the law first. Because the law is not like that. That's precisely what the law does not recommend," he added.

Furthermore, Marcell emphasized that he remains obedient to the applicable law. He saw what LMKN was running based on existing positive laws in order to build a better music ecosystem and not for the benefit of a handful of people.

The Copyright Law is indeed aimed at building an ecosystem, for the sake of Indonesia's macro creativity. There is a principle of justice, there is a principle of legal certainty, there is a principle of benefit. And we all know that this law is the result of international convention ratifications for intellectual property. How to prioritize a system that can also maintain the benefit of the ecosystem, not for one or two people, "concluded Marcell Siahaan, Commissioner of LMKN.