Copyright Law Revision Regulates Song Royalty Duration

Commission XIII of the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat – “DPR”) will revise Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright (“Law 28/2014”). Deputy Chair of Commission XIII of DPR, Andreas Hugo Pareira, stated that the rule allowing songwriters who are not registered with a Collective Management Organization (Lembaga Manajemen Kolektif – “LMK”) to claim royalties within a two-year period will be revised.

The provision in Article 15 of Regulation of the Government No. 56 of 2021 on the Management of Copyright Royalties for Songs and/or Music (“PP 56/2021”) is considered to be in conflict with Article 58 of Law 28/2014. It is also inconsistent with the economic rights attached to a creation.

“This is certainly contrary to efforts to protect the economic rights of a creation as stipulated in Article 58 of Law 28/2014,” said Andreas to Hukumonline.

According to him, the absence of a clear roadmap will cause the royalty system to operate in a sporadic and inconsistent manner. Therefore, the multi-interpretation provisions in Law 28/2014, PP 56/2021, and ministerial regulations need to be revised.

“These multi-interpretation rules are the source of the disputes,” said Andreas.