Once Mekel For The Copyright Bill: Those Related To LMK Don't Need To Be Criminalized

Once Mekel (Instagram @oncemekelofficial)

JAKARTA - Once Mekel as a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission X said that the revision of the Copyright Law should not prioritize crime in resolving copyright disputes for songs/music, especially regarding royalties.

His statement was made during the Working Committee Meeting (Panja) of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI with the Expert Team in the context of Harmonizing the Copyright Bill recently.

Once seeing criminal steps in copyright cases is considered too harsh. The former vocalist of Dewa 19 suggested that the punishment for violations be more administrative or civil.

Tadi benar, sudah disampaikan bahwa pidana itu jangan, terlalu keras. Kita harus mengarahkan kepada yang sifat administrasi atau civil, kata Once, mengutip YouTube TVR Parliament, Rabu, 3 Desember.

According to Once, criminal measures, especially related to royalties managed by the Collective Management Institute (LMK), can have an unfavorable effect.

"If the punishment is too harsh, it could have an effect that turns around," said the member of the PDI-P faction.

"I think in the context of songs or copyright related to LMK, there is no need to use punishment," he added.

However, continued Once, criminal measures can be applied to copyright infringement which is quite severe, such as piracy or counterfeiting.

"So, punishment is only for several serious crimes, such as piracy, forgery, and repeated crimes or violations," said Once.

"We have to try not to hinder the industry," he said.