Ending Royalty Polemic, DPR Targets Revision Of Copyright Law To Be Completed For 2 Months

Illustration of musical royalties (pixabay)

JAKARTA - The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government have decided to end the royalties polemic which has recently caused controversy. The decision was agreed in a consultation meeting with LMKN and musicians at the DPR Building, Thursday, August 21 yesterday.

Member of Commission XIII DPR RI, Mafirion, said the government and the DPR also agreed to revise Law Number 8 of 2014 concerning Copyright. He hopes that this step will be an entry point for strengthening copyright protection, while ensuring that royalty withdrawals are carried out transparently so as not to cause new polemics.

The protracted polemic of royalties must end immediately. We appreciate the commitment of the government and all parties to find a way out. Revision of the Copyright Law must be able to provide protection, but it does not burden the creativity of the creative industry," said Mafirion to reporters, Friday, August 22.

According to him, the presence of regulations must provide a sense of security for all parties. He agreed that copyright needs to be protected, but its implementation should not be burdensome.

Music as a work of art must give meaning to economic progress, especially for small and medium enterprises. Isn't art work going to sound more beautiful when enjoyed together, not a source of dispute? " he said.

Mafirion emphasized that the formulation of the revision will involve various stakeholders, ranging from songwriters, singers, to the National Collective Management Institute (LMKN), so that the aspirations of all parties can be accommodated.

He is optimistic that the revision of the Copyright Law can be completed in the next two months. According to him, the discussion will focus on crucial issues that trigger polemics among music industry players.

"The discussion will focus on things that have been the main issue, especially transparency in the withdrawal and distribution of royalties to make them fairer, on target, and open," he explained.

In addition, Mafirion requested that the revision of the Copyright Law also strengthen the monitoring mechanism. Thus, the protection of copyright is truly guaranteed without hindering the creativity of musicians and other creative industry players.

"We don't want this royalty issue to kill the creative industry, especially music," he concluded.