Indonesia is making significant strides in modernizing its intellectual property framework with the planned amendment to Law No. 28 of 2014 on Copyright, marking one of the most comprehensive copyright reforms in the country’s legislative history.
Legislative Progress
On March 12, 2026, Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR-RI) formally approved the Amendment to Copyright Law as a legislative initiative during its 16th Plenary Session of the Fourth Sitting Period for the 2025–2026 legislative year. The decision received unanimous support from all eight political party factions in parliament, signaling strong cross-party commitment to strengthening copyright protection in the digital age.
Legislation Body (Baleg), the specific permanent organ of the DPR tasked with managing all legislation process in the house, has set an ambitious target to complete the amendment draft by April 2026. Bob Hasan, Chairman of Baleg, acknowledged the dynamic nature of the deliberations, noting that while the draft was nearly completed previously, it underwent further revisions to address emerging concerns. The legislative body is currently conducting a harmonization process through a series of discussion meetings and public hearings scheduled for late March to early April 2026.
Constitutional Impetus
The amendment initiative follows a pivotal Constitutional Court ruling in February 2024, which determined that Articles 10 and 114 of the existing copyright law must extend coverage to user-generated content (UGC) platforms. The Court found that digital service providers were effectively outside the reach of copyright enforcement provisions, leaving rights holders with limited protection against unauthorized use on online platforms. This decision took immediate effect through its binding interpretation and catalyzed broader legislative reform efforts.
Key Proposed Amendments
The revision has evolved from initial targeted amendments into a comprehensive overhaul designed to align Indonesia’s copyright framework with contemporary technological realities. The drafting process involves multiple stakeholders, including leading university law faculties, the Indonesian Music Publishers Alliance, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), and intellectual property consultants.
Artificial Intelligence and Copyright: One of the most significant proposed changes addresses AI-generated works. According to the DGIP’s position, content created with human involvement will be eligible for copyright protection, whereas works produced entirely by artificial intelligence without human input will not receive protection. This distinction aims to balance technological innovation with the protection of human creativity.
Digital Platform Regulation: The bill strengthens requirements for digital platforms and user-generated content services, closing loopholes that previously allowed unauthorized use of copyrighted works. New provisions will address digital content management, including metadata, digital rights management (DRM), watermarking, and blockchain-based licensing mechanisms.
Royalty Management Reform: Substantial reforms to royalty management and distribution systems are proposed, particularly for the music industry. The amendments aim to implement real-time royalty payments and strengthen the role of the National Collective Management Organization (LMKN) in managing royalty distribution to creators. Public hearings in November 2025 featured input from prominent Indonesian musicians, including members of Padi and Noah, highlighting industry stakeholder engagement in the reform process.
Fair Use and Traditional Cultural Expressions: The bill maintains fair use provisions for education, research, parody, news reporting, and accessibility for persons with disabilities, while introducing special considerations for digital content. Additionally, the revision includes enhanced protection for traditional cultural expressions, addressing concerns about the commercialization of Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage.
International Alignment: The reform reflects Indonesia’s commitment to aligning its intellectual property regime with international best practices and treaty obligations. As a signatory to various copyright and related rights treaties, Indonesia aims to enable national authors and creators to compete effectively in the international marketplace while providing robust legal certainty for rights holders.
In October 2025, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas announced the “Jakarta Protocol” proposal at the Indonesia Digital Conference 2025, emphasizing that strengthening copyright protection is crucial for upholding the nation’s intellectual sovereignty.
Industry and Economic Impact
The planned amendments are expected to significantly impact Indonesia’s creative economy, which has become one of the country’s economic mainstays. By addressing gaps in digital-age copyright protection and modernizing royalty management, the government aims to foster growth in the creative industries while ensuring fair compensation for creators, performers, and rights holders.
The Directorate General of Intellectual Property has affirmed its commitment to providing maximum protection for creators as the foundation of a thriving royalty ecosystem. The reform is viewed as essential to maintaining relevance in an era of rapid digital transformation and emerging technologies that continue to reshape creative production and distribution.
Outlook
With the bill now officially designated as a DPR initiative and harmonization discussions underway, stakeholders across Indonesia’s creative industries are closely monitoring the legislative process. The targeted completion in April 2026 would represent a significant milestone in Indonesia’s intellectual property modernization efforts, potentially serving as a model for other developing nations navigating similar challenges at the intersection of copyright law and digital innovation.