Indra Lesmana and a Series of Top Musicians in the Country Reject PP Number 56 Regarding Song and Music Copyright

Kapanlagi.com - A number of musicians in the country who are members of the Indonesian Song Composer Musicians Alliance (AMPLI) urge the government to immediately revoke two regulations that discuss music royalties.

They are Indra Lesmana, Cholil Mahmud, Endah Widiastuti, Melly Goeslaw, Eros Chandra, Once Mekel, Tompi, Eva Celia, Riko Prayitno, and Yovie Widianto.

The two regulations are Indonesian Government Regulation Number 56 of 2021 concerning the Management of Song and/or Music Copyrights and the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regulation Number 20 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Government Regulation Number 56 of 2021.

AMPLI initiator, Indra Lesmana, through AMPLI's statement, asserts that they firmly adhere to the Indonesian Law Number 28 of 2014 concerning Copyright.

1. Royalty Questions

"As implied in the Copyright Law, the lawmakers have fully realized that royalty issues, as entrusted by the creators, must be managed and handled transparently by non-commercial institutions," emphasized Indra Lesmana in a virtual webinar on Monday (20/12/2021).

Indra Lesmana mentioned that this is contrary to the Indonesian Government Regulation Number 56 of 2021 concerning the Management of Copyrights for Songs and/or Music, as well as the Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 20 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Government Regulation Number 56 of 2021.

2. Contradictory Rules

"These regulations have allowed third parties in the form of private companies (corporations) to participate in taking over the functions of collecting, gathering, and distributing royalties, under the pretext of establishing the Music and Song Information System (SILM)," he said.

"Not only as a vendor to build SILM, but also taking over all the authority and functions of LMKN, with the attribute as the daily executor, and given the right to deduct 20% of the collected and gathered royalties for operational purposes," added Indra Lesmana.

3. Considered Excessive

Indra Lesmana asserts that the Republic of Indonesia Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation Number 20 of 2021 gives excessive authority to corporations considered AMPLI.

"So, the deduction that was originally only 20% for LMK operational funds, including LMKN, increases by another 20%. However, in the Copyright Law, the maximum deduction should only be 20%. This policy clearly contradicts the Copyright Law and greatly harms song creators," added Indra Lesmana.

4. Suspicion of Conflict of Interest

Together with AMPLI, Indra Lesmana suspects a conflict of interest because when the agreement between LMKN and the corporation was signed on May 19, 2021, one of the LMKN commissioners had shares in the corporation appointed as the builder of SILM and the daily executor.

Because of this, he and AMPLI members strongly reject the provisions in Indonesian Government Regulation Number 56 of 2021 and the Republic of Indonesia Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation Number 20 of 2021.

5. Statement of AMPLI

"And therefore, AMPLI requests the cancellation of Indonesian PP Number 56 of 2021 and Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights Decree Number 20 of 2021," said Indra Lesmana.

"AMPLI encourages LMKN to improve its performance and transparency in order to rebuild public trust during the development of PDLM and SILM," concluded Indra Lesmana.

(kpl/far/ums)