Parliamentary Legislative Commission: Journalistic Works Protected Under Copyright Law, Usage Requires Permission

The head of the House of Representatives’ Legislative Commission (Baleg), Bob Hasan, has explained the substantive protections for journalistic works under the revised Copyright Law bill. Bob stated that all works, including journalistic creations, possess exclusive rights that must be protected.

“In essence, exclusive rights are inherent in these works. Every creation, whether music or journalism and so forth, must be protected,” Bob said at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

“The Copyright Law is fundamentally about protection. Protection of creative works to which these exclusive rights are attached,” he added.

Bob explained that if such works are subsequently used for distribution or incorporated as part of another journalistic product, permission is required. Additionally, royalty payments may be due.

“If a work contains creative elements, even if it may be general in nature and subsequently adopted as a journalistic creation by a journalist, then if it is to be distributed again or made part of a journalistic or news product created by someone, permission must be obtained and royalties may apply,” he elaborated.

Bob stated that the Copyright Law bill has been approved as a parliamentary initiative. The commission is targeting completion of the bill within the current year.

“(It will be) completed (this year), yes,” he said.