Composers get Idul Fitri gift -- royalties<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of local music composers have just
\nreceived a special Idul Fitri bonus -- royalties for their
\ncreations.<\/p>\n
The word \"royalty\" is relatively new to the ears of many
\nIndonesians. Composers used to ignore their right to make a
\nprofit from their work and Indonesian music producers and
\nconsumers till don't appreciate copyright law.<\/p>\n
In the last four years, local music composers registered with
\nthe Indonesian Creative Acts Foundation (YKCI) have started
\nreceiving annual royalties. The foundation also acts as
\nrepresentative for agencies of foreign composers such as BMI,
\nASCAP in the United States, PUS in the United Kingdom, JASRAC in
\nJapan and BUMA in The Netherlands.<\/p>\n
This year, the foundation distributed Rp. 1.6 billion in
\nroyalties for 1994 to about 1 million local and international
\nmusic composers.<\/p>\n
\"It's high time that Indonesians respected the work of both
\nlocal and foreign composers,\" stressed Candra Darusman, the
\ngeneral manager of the foundation.<\/p>\n
The heir to the late music composer A. Riyanto received the
\nlargest stipend of Rp 6 million for 1994. Other composers who
\npulled in large royalties were Titiek Puspa, Sam Bimbo, Rinto
\nHarahap, Papa T. Bob and young jazz musician Indra Lesmana.<\/p>\n
Candra, also a composer and jazz musician, explained that the
\ndistribution of royalties is primarily aimed at improving the
\nimage of Indonesia on the international music scene.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, he said, was regarded as a violator of music and
\nfilm copyright laws. Recent reports reveal that Indonesia, one of
\nthe Asia-Pacific's fast-emerging economies, is on the United
\nStates' \"watch list\" of trading partners for alleged deficiencies
\nin the protection and enforcement of computer software patents.<\/p>\n
The foundation was established in June 1990 by composers
\nEnteng Tanamal, Candra Darusman, the late A. Riyanto, Titiek
\nPuspa and Guruh Soekarno Putra. It aims to be a mediator between
\ncomposers and the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n
Candra explained that it is the foundation's duty to change
\nIndonesian's perception of the rights of composers. It is also
\nthe foundation's duty to promote Indonesian music worldwide.<\/p>\n
\"If we want to go global, we first must follow the existing
\nrules. This means we have to adhere to international copyright
\nlaw,\" Candra maintained.<\/p>\n
The foundation's initial step toward this goal is to make
\nmusic users pay royalties to local composers.<\/p>\n
The term music users refers to the entertainment industry,
\nincluding television stations, radio stations, hotels,
\nrestaurants, pubs, disco, cafes and other profit-making
\nenterprises which use music for commercial purposes.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta alone, there are between 2,000 and 3,000 companies
\nthat use music as part of their product.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Paul Hutabarat said every composer has three economic
\nrights -- the right to realize profit from his creative work, a
\nmechanical right and a performing right.<\/p>\n
\"If you buy a CD, the price includes mechanical rights for the
\ncomposer, the right to duplicate a song,\" Hutabarat explained.<\/p>\n
When the CD is played at a disco, pub, restaurant or hotel to
\nentertain visitors, the owners are obliged to obtain special
\npermission from the composer, otherwise they have violated the
\ncomposer's performing right.<\/p>\n
Enteng Tanamal commented that most businesses don't feel
\nobligated to pay royalties.<\/p>\n
\"They actually rob the composers. Businesses are still
\nreluctant to share their profits with composers whose songs they
\nuse frequently,\" Tanamal complained.<\/p>\n
As a recognized representative of composers, the foundation
\nholds the right to collect royalties for 19,000 local songs and 1
\nmillion foreign numbers.<\/p>\n
\"We act as debt collectors,\" Candra explained.<\/p>\n
The foundation regularly monitors and records the activities
\nof all music enterprises and determines the amount of royalties
\neach has to pay.<\/p>\n
\"We don't blame the Indonesian businesses because they are
\nignorant of copyright issues,\" Candra pointed out.<\/p>\n
He explained that many countries have applied copyright and
\nintellectual property rights since the early l900s.<\/p>\n
Indonesia passed its Copyright Act in 1982 and updated it in
\nl987. The law stipulates that violators are subject to a maximum
\nof seven years in prison and a fine of Rp 100 million
\n(US$50,000).<\/p>\n
The amount of royalties the foundation collects continues to
\nincrease. In l992, only 20 percent of Indonesian music users paid
\ntheir dues. The figure rose to fifty percent in 1993. The
\nfoundation's income in Jakarta rose from Rp 400 million in l991
\nto over Rp.1.6 billion in l994.<\/p>\n
Candra explained that television and radio stations pay the
\nmost.<\/p>\n
The foundation has established branches in Bandung and
\nSurabaya, but both are far from being operational.<\/p>\n
Candra said that the foundation plans to deal with singers and
\nauthors, but Indonesia must first sign the Bern Convention.<\/p>\n
When it does, copyright laws will cover local and foreign
\nplays, broadcasts, videos, photographs, plastic art,
\narchitecture, maps and books.<\/p>\n
\"I'm optimistic that we're heading this way,\" Candra
\nconcluded.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/composers-get-idul-fitri-gift-royalties-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}