Ministry of Law Urges Business Owners to Respect Music Copyright in Commercial Spaces
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Law (Kemenkum) is urging business operators to respect musical works and songs played in commercial spaces, as creators hold specific rights over their work.
During a socialisation event in Soreang, Bandung Regency, West Java, on Thursday (1/10), the Director General of Intellectual Property at the Ministry of Law, Hermansyah Siregar, emphasised that royalties are part of the creator’s economic rights that must be respected when works are used commercially.
“Royalties are a right that must be granted to creators. When a song is played and enjoyed by visitors in a cafe, such use must take the creator’s economic rights into account,” said Hermansyah, as quoted from a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday.
Consequently, he encouraged business owners to understand and fulfil their obligations in accordance with applicable regulations.
According to Hermansymah, compliance should not merely be viewed as a legal obligation, but also as a form of appreciation for the creative process that produces a work. He noted that every song is born from the ideas, creativity, time, experience, and labour of its creators.
He assessed that increasing compliance among business operators is a vital part of building a healthy music ecosystem. He noted that regulations regarding the commercial use of songs and/or music and the management of royalties in Indonesia are governed by Law Number 28 of 2014 on Copyright and Government Regulation Number 56 of 2021 on the Management of Royalties for Song and/or Music Copyright.
He further explained that the use of songs and music in commercial public services includes restaurants, cafes, hotels, shops, recreation centres, karaoke parlours, and various other types of businesses. Therefore, he continued, music is an inseparable part of the customer experience in restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping centres, and various other business venues.
However, behind the songs heard and enjoyed by the public, he stated, there are the economic rights of creators and related rightsholders that need to be respected.
This aligns with the message from the Head of the West Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Law, Asep Sutandar, who emphasised the importance of building a culture of appreciation for creative works. He stated that behind a song lie ideas, creativity, and life experiences; thus, when such works are used commercially, it is only right that the rights attached to those works are observed.
“Royalties are not merely an obligation, but a form of appreciation for the creator,” said Asep.
Asep expressed confidence that trust within the intellectual property ecosystem must be built through a transparent system, accurate data, accountability, compliance, and collaboration between stakeholders.
Through this socialisation activity, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Law, together with the West Java Regional Office, is encouraging business owners to increase literacy and legal compliance regarding the use of songs and music, while simultaneously building a healthier relationship between the business world and creators.
He stated that West Java must be a home for the birth of creative works. These works must be able to provide economic benefits and prosperity for their creators. Therefore, he added, such an ecosystem must be built in a transparent, accountable, and modern manner.