Ministry of Law Reiterates Ban on Pirating Sports Broadcasts, Violators Face Legal Action

The Indonesian Ministry of Law has issued a strong warning regarding the widespread practice of pirating sports match broadcasts in society. This reaffirmation demonstrates the government’s concrete commitment to addressing all forms of intellectual property violations that can damage the ecosystem of the creative and national sports industries. Through the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI), the Ministry assesses that protecting broadcasting rights is the primary foundation for maintaining a healthy and highly competitive industry. Director General of Intellectual Property, Hermansyah Siregar, explained that broadcasting rights are not merely broadcasts but intellectual products with significant economic value protected by law. He stressed that illegal broadcasting or streaming without permission constitutes a serious violation. According to him, practices such as redistributing match content and using illegal devices for commercial purposes greatly harm rights holders. This directly impacts significant financial losses and hampers the advancement of the sports industry in Indonesia. To curb violation rates, DJKI invites all levels of society to be more aware of the importance of using content legally. “Through the national campaign we are conducting, we want to build a culture of respecting intellectual property as part of modern lifestyle,” said Hermansyah Siregar. The government hopes that society will be wiser by only accessing live broadcasts through official platforms with valid licences, as a tangible form of support for athletes and match organisers. Meanwhile, the Director of Law Enforcement at DJKI, Arie Ardian Rishadi, affirmed that his side will not remain silent against stubborn individuals. “We will not hesitate to take legal action against sports broadcasting rights violations, whether committed individually or organised,” stated Arie. DJKI is also continuously strengthening cross-sector collaborations, from licence holders to other law enforcement authorities, to ensure legal certainty.