Protect your batik: Megawati

SURAKARTA, Central Java: Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged local batik artists on Friday to register copyright of their products so the legacy of the ancestors can be legally protected.

She made the remarks while opening the Danar Hadi Batik Antique Museum here.

Megawati stressed the importance of copyright, especially in the globalization and free trade era, to prevent piracy by other parties.

She pointed out that several foreign countries were already competing to obtain the patent to batik printing, and some even claimed that printed batik originated from their country.

She did not elaborate which countries.

Megawati also expressed hope that the newly opened museum would encourage greater public appreciation and interest to preserve this cultural legacy, Antara reported.

The museum houses some 10,000 batik collections from across the country. (lup)