Constitutional Court Rules in Favor of Musicians in Copyright Law Review

Partial Acceptance of Judicial Review Petition

The Constitutional Court of Indonesia has partially granted a judicial review petition filed by 29 prominent Indonesian musicians against the Copyright Law No. 28/2014. The court's decision was delivered on December 17, 2025, by Chief Justice Suhartoyo during a public hearing at the Constitutional Court building.

Key Findings and Ruling

The court specifically examined Article 23(5) of the Copyright Law, which previously contained the phrase 'every person'. The constitutional judges ruled that this phrase lacked clarity as it was not explicitly defined within the law. To address this ambiguity, the court decided that the phrase would be considered constitutional only if interpreted to include commercial show organizers.

Implications for the Music Industry

This ruling represents a significant development for Indonesia's music industry as it provides clearer guidelines regarding copyright responsibilities. By specifically including commercial show organizers in the interpretation, the court has effectively broadened the scope of copyright protection. This change is expected to have far-reaching implications for both artists and event organizers in Indonesia's music industry.

Background and Context

The judicial review was initiated by a group of 29 musicians who argued that certain provisions of the Copyright Law were unclear and potentially detrimental to their rights. The petitioners included well-known artists such as Ariel 'Noah', Armand Maulana, and Marcel. Their legal challenge focused on clarifying the responsibilities of various parties involved in musical performances and recordings.