Former Indonesian president emphasizes the importance of copyright in protecting works
14 June 2023
Megawati Sukarnoputri, former president and current chairman of the steering committee for the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), stressed the need to spread knowledge and the importance of copyright and intellectual property rights (IPR), otherwise known as HKI, to protect the creations of the Indonesian people.
Sukarnoputri made her comments after seeing a song performed for the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)'s presidential candidate
Indonesia already has laws that govern copyright and other forms of intellectual property. However, Sukarnoputri said that many of the country’s artists are still uninformed about IP, emphasizing the necessity to spread awareness about it. She made these comments after seeing a song performed for the party’s presidential candidate, Ganjar Pranowo, during the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) National Working Meeting III.
In a conversation with President Joko Widodo, Sukarnoputri advised him to encourage people to register their works and ensure that all Indonesians’ works are included, stating that it is “a legal requirement that the right holder should receive a royalty if someone wants to buy, borrow, or use their works.”
Sukarnoputri shared that she often receives queries from individuals asking if they have material rights to their works. She explained the need for a HAKI certificate, which states its validity for the duration of the creator’s life and an addition of 70 years after their death. This is confirmed by Yasonna Laoly, minister of law and human rights of Indonesia.
To avoid damages for the creator, the former president also said that the copyright of personal works or the work itself must not be traded carelessly. Trading patent rights would be detrimental rather than beneficial, according to Sukarnoputri.
- Excel Dyquiangco
