LMKN's Response To Songwriters Who Freed Their Works Screened At Cafes And Restaurants

Illustration of musical royalties (unsplash)

JAKARTA - The National Collective Management Institute (LMKN) responded to the recent phenomenon, in which several songwriters invited cafe and restaurant owners to play their songs without having to pay royalties.

Yessy Kurniawan as one of the LMKN Commissioners said that the statements of songwriters could not immediately be accepted. The reason is, a copyright contains related rights from other musicians and master record owners.

"If this is free, it is not necessarily the recording sound of the performers agreeing. Not necessarily the owner of the recording agrees. LMKN manages the use of songs and music for these three rights," Yessy said after attending the judicial review of the Copyright Law at the Constitutional Court, Thursday, August 7.

Yessy assessed that the decision to eliminate copyright by songwriters without considering other parties was an attempt to make wrong opinions.

"So, don't make the wrong opinion either," he added. Don't get me wrong, in the tape as stated by Professor Ramli (in the judicial review) is the result of collaboration between songwriters, good performers, and good recordings. So please, please don't just swallow it right away.

In addition, another LMKN Commissioner, Bernard Nainggolan, explained that a copyright contains not only one right, but several rights that become a unit.

In a song there is a 'bundle of rights'. There is a creator, there is a performer or performer, and there is a producer. So one package, one group," said Bernard.

The right is there, not only to the creator. Rights to creation can indeed be given to others, but there are also other rights that should not be disturbed. Do not let the release of one right violate the rights of another,' he concluded.