Ministry Of Law And Human Rights Gives 3 LMK Operational Permits To Protect Traditional Music

The handover of the operational permit for LMK traditional Indonesian music (photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) through the Directorate of Copyright and Industrial Design of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) has granted operational permits to three Collective Management Institutions (LMK) for Archipelago Traditional Music.

This permit is granted to protect the rights of the actors of traditional Indonesian music and help songwriters and music to get their economic rights.

"The economic rights of the creators and performing arts of performers must be given according to their rights. Of course this is not an easy way to collect them, but I believe these three LMKs can synergize and collaborate with LMKN (National Collective Management Institute)," said Director of Copyright and Industrial Design of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Anggoro Dasananto in the Graha Utama room of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Jakarta, Monday, quoted by Antara.

According to Anggoro, traditional music that has great potential for use in various celebrations or ceremonial activities must get protection so that the music actors get their rights properly.

"Regional songs have enormous potential, for example for weddings. I exemplify in one country, for example, if there is an activity, then the organizers must specify the songs that will be shown and then pay. That's the expected culture," explained Anggoro.

The three LMKs that received the operational permit were LMK Langgam Cultural Creation, LMK Citra Nusa Swara, and LMK Prokarindo Utama. The granting of operational permits was carried out by the Director of Copyright and Industrial Design of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Anggoro Dasananto, to the Chairperson of the LMK Langgam Cultural Creation, Nyak Ina Raseuki, Chairman of the LMK Citra Nusa Swara Amar Aprizal, and Chairman of the LMK Pro Karindo Utama, Flavianusmen Embun.

For information in 2021, the Ministry of Education and Culture facilitates the formation of three traditional Indonesian music associations that have become legal entities. The Cultural Creation Langgam Association is a forum for the creator of traditional Indonesian music, while the Nusa Swara Citra Association is a forum for Indonesian traditional music performance actors. Meanwhile, the Pro Karindo Utama Association is a place for the traditional music producer of the archipelago. These three associations became LMK for the Archipelago Traditional Music.

On the same occasion, Chairman of the National Collective Management Institute (LMKN) Dharma Oratmangun revealed that traditional music is the identity of the Indonesian nation which must get its main protection from people in their own country.

"I am very grateful that there is an LMK for this traditional music because it pays special attention. Welcome to 3 traditional music LMKs, let's work together to collect royalties as well as possible. This is an obligation ordered by law. So, once again the state is present, it's just a matter of LMK carrying out its duties," said Dharma.

Regarding the awareness of each related party to pay royalties, Dharma explained that this is not new because all countries in the world have implemented this mechanism.

"We already have a law on Copyright from 1987. Then there are changes until the last Law 28 of 2014. So, once the order of the law is passed, it is considered that everyone already knows, there is no reason that they do not know or there is no socialization," he said.

Dharma added that royalty payment rates are the lowest when compared to other countries in the world, even on the ASEAN scale.

"In Japan, the collection activity has produced trillions. Here it is only hundreds of billions, there is still a fire from roasting. Moreover, traditional songs are power, wealth, treasure of the Indonesian nation. Instead of waiting for other people to appreciate it, we used to do it. As a civilized nation, we must respect copyright, "concluded Dharma.