Law Minister reveals disparities in digital platform royalty payments
The ecosystem must be built together, and no party should be left behind, whether creators, industry, or platforms.
Kuta, Bali (ANTARA) - Indonesian Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas revealed disparities in the royalty payment system on digital platforms in the ASEAN region, despite the vast market potential.
At the ASEAN Collective Management Organization (CMO) Forum in Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, on Friday, Supratman stated that Southeast Asia has a population of more than 700 million people, or about 8.5 percent of the world’s total population, making it a strategic market for the digital industry, including music.
Of that number, around 500 million are active internet users, most of whom access digital services such as music streaming.
However, the high consumption of digital content has not been matched by the royalty distribution received by creators.
He cited that in 2025, approximately 6.6 billion streams per week originate from the ASEAN region, including Indonesia and the Philippines.
According to him, this large figure demonstrates extraordinary economic potential, but it has not yet been fully enjoyed fairly by copyright holders.
“This ecosystem must be built together, and no party should be left behind, whether creators, industry, or platforms,” he said.
He emphasised that if one element in the ecosystem does not function optimally, the entire system will become imbalanced.
To that end, the Indonesian government is actively engaging in communication with ASEAN countries to align visions on digital royalty management.
Meetings have been held with several regional officials, including intellectual property authorities from Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, to strengthen cooperation.
He stressed that each country has sovereignty in regulating its royalty system, but regional cooperation is needed as an initial step towards a more integrated system.
The ASEAN Collective Management Organization (CMO) Forum is seen as an initial momentum to unify perceptions among countries in digital royalty governance.
Through the forum, it is hoped that there will be an exchange of information on opportunities and challenges in each country regarding copyright management.
The Indonesian government is also preparing a proposal focused on protecting all elements of the ecosystem, including creators, industry, and digital platforms.
In that effort, the Law Minister admitted to having met with several global technology companies such as Meta Platforms, Google, and Apple.
Meetings were also held with the US-ASEAN Business Council to discuss policy directions towards fairness in the royalty system in Indonesia and the region.
He affirmed that fairness in royalty distribution is a shared need, not only for Indonesia but for all ASEAN countries.