Komisi XIII of Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) has officially proposed the revision of Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright to be included in the 2026 National Legislative Program (Prolegnas) as a priority. This is a response to recent concerns from artists, musicians, and creative communities about protecting their rights in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, as well as numerous disputes between musicians and songwriters.
Melly Goeslaw, a member of DPR’s Commission X and a musician herself, highlighted four main focuses of the revision, namely strengthening copyright protection online by enabling takedown of illegal content and curbing digital piracy; ensuring fair, transparent, and targeted distribution of royalties by reinforcing creators’ economic and moral rights; revising licensing rules to prevent exploitative “buyout” agreements that harm creators; and improving legal enforcement to more effectively address violations without burdening victims.
Regarding the timing of the draft, Komisi XIII emphasized the urgency of finalizing it quickly and with the end of 2025 as a target, so that formal parliamentary discussions can begin before the close of the year. The goal is to submit the final draft for plenary approval early in the 2025/2026 legislative session.
What to expect from new Copyright Law
While the draft of the new law is yet to be publicized, we can speculate a few key amendments that could be introduced based on recent points of discussion about copyright law. Keep in mind that below are entirely speculative:
Digital-First Copyright Protection
Illegal content takedowns and online piracy prevention will likely become central focus. The challenges of the digital and AI era are frequently mentioned thus the new law may mandate platforms to act swiftly on infringement claims and embrace real-time digital monitoring systems to track content usage accurately across digital spaces
AI regulations
A more obvious change to the dynamics of creative work is the introduction of AI. AI is currently a growing challenge and a popular legal topic across the world. Indonesia’s new copyright law may acknowledge the concerns of this new technology in some way.
Royalty Systems
A unified, government-regulated LMK (royalty collection agency) system to replace today’s model is a possibility. This could include hybrid licensing structures: creators may choose between collective licensing through LMKN or direct digital licensing (DDL), enabling more autonomy and potentially higher returns.
Strengthening Creators’ Rights and Moral Claims
The revision might also explicitly reinforce or clarify certain aspects of economic and moral rights of creators, ensuring stronger emphasis on rights and decrease likelihood of confusion about rights of creators and copyright owners.
Protection for Small Businesses and Fair Burden Sharing
Considering recent controversy and public concern about playing music in businesses, tiered royalty pricing or exemptions may be introduced. The new law might recognize the impact on small venues like cafes and UMKMs and support grassroots creative economies while ensuring that rights holders are still compensated.
Governance and Oversight
As a response to much controversy about royalty management, a stricter audits and public reporting requirements for LMKN/LMK operations should be expected. This transparency will be crucial in restoring trust and accountability in royalty collection systems.
In Summary
Indonesia’s upcoming copyright law signals foundational shift toward equity, clarity, and modern accountability to face a new, modern world. By involving creators in lawmaking, empowering transparent governance, and leveraging digital tools, this reform could mark a positive turning point for the Indonesian copyright ecosystem. As we wait for the new draft to be publicized, we encourage copyright owners to always keep an eye for recent developments regarding IP regulations. For more information on this topic or other IP law related inquiries, contact us at ambadar@ambadar.co.id
Sources:
https://industri.kontan.co.id/news/melly-goeslaw-beberkan-poin-penting-revisi-uu-hak-cipta
