Indonesia Makes Music Copyright Recordal Free

Free Recordal of Songs and Music under PP 30/2026

Since 1 August 2026, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) has charged no government fee to record copyright in songs and music. Peraturan Pemerintah (PP) No. 30 of 2026 cut the government fee for copyright recordal in Indonesia of musical works to zero. Fees for other works are unchanged.

For songwriters, music publishers, and record labels, the waiver removes a significant cost of recording a catalogue. It arrives as the government builds a national music database to support royalty distribution. This article summarises the change, the reasons behind it, and its practical implications for rights holders.

What PP 30/2026 Changes for Copyright Recordal

PP 30/2026 was issued on 2 July 2026 and replaces the previous tariff schedule under PP 45/2024. It sets the Penerimaan Negara Bukan Pajak (PNBP) – non-tax state revenue – collected by the Ministry of Law. This includes DGIP’s fees for copyright, trademark, and patent services. In Indonesia, the formal term for this process is recordal, or pencatatan.

Before the change, every copyright recordal application carried the same fee, whatever the type of work. That is no longer the case.

The same regulation moved in the other direction for brand owners. General-tier trademark filing and renewal fees rose by about 55.6%, as set out in our update on the trademark fee increase.

Applicants file online through Persetujuan Otomatis Pencatatan Hak Cipta, DGIP’s automated recordal service at hakcipta.dgip.go.id. DGIP has invited songwriters/composers, performers, and phonogram producers to use the free service.

Currently the DGIP system has allowed the recordal of related rights product i.e.

• Performers product:
  • Live performance;
  • Recording
  • Broadcasting of a performance
• Broadcasting organizations products:
  • Television Program;
  • Radio Program;
  • Sports Broadcasting or Live Events
  • Public Service Announcement Material

In addition, for the recordal of copyright, the DGIP system also adds sections to enter the following information:

• Copyright Code (ISWC – International Standard Musical Work Code).
• Copyright Collective Management Organization.

However, the DGIP adds a disclaimer stating that this data is optional and can be completed in the Pusat Data Lagu dan/atau Musik (PDLM) system. Please contact the CMO to update this data.

Building the National Music Database

DGIP has described the waiver as a state investment in a more complete national music database. Recorded works feed the PDLM. DGIP is developing the PDLM as Indonesia’s official source of song data.

PDLM data will be integrated with the information system of the Lembaga Manajemen Kolektif Nasional (LMKN). LMKN collects royalties for commercial use of music in public spaces, as explained in our music royalty framework overview. The stated aim is royalty distribution that reaches the right creators and rights holders more accurately.

The starting point is low. DGIP estimates that around 7 million songs and musical works exist in Indonesia. The PDLM holds only about 26,000 of them, less than 0.4% of the total.

DGIP has also indicated that music is a first stage. The Director General of Intellectual Property described the sector as a pilot because DGIP is building the PDLM now. In addition, the Minister of Law has said the government would like recordal to be free for all works. The Director General also cited Article 6 of PP 30/2026 as leaving room for that extension. For now, books, photography, computer programs, films, and other works remain at the standard fee.

What This Means for Music Rights Holders

Copyright in Indonesia arises automatically when a work is created. Recordal is not mandatory. However, a recordal certificate gives the owner administrative proof of ownership. It can be used as prima factie of copyright ownership if a dispute arises. In practice, the government fee is no longer part of the decision to record music.

We have analysed the 2025 DGIP IP Outlook Report and observed that copyright rose from 7.4% of all IP applications in 2015 to 52.6% in 2024, making it the largest single category of filings. We see this growth feeding more enforcement activity as more rights are formally recorded.

While the waiver removes the cost of recording, it does not change what a recordal is: prima facie evidence issued largely through automated approval, which can still be contested by another claimant.

Practical Steps for Rights Holders

The fee change makes this a convenient moment to review the documentation of a music catalogue in Indonesia.

Audit the catalogue against DGIP records.

Identify which compositions and recordings are already recorded and which are not. Owners can now record any unrecorded musical works through DGIP’s automated service without a government fee.

Record related rights alongside copyright.

Performers and phonogram producers hold rights separate from the composer’s copyright. DGIP has invited both groups to use the free service. Confirm that the related-rights feature handles each recording correctly before filing in bulk.

Settle ownership documents before filing.

Applications require a statement of ownership and a sample of the work. Chain-of-title documents for co-written or acquired works should be in order first. Our practical guide to copyright recordal applications sets out the evidence DGIP expects.

Track any extension to other works.

The government has stated an interest in free recordal for all works. Rights holders in publishing, software, film, and photography should watch for further changes.

SKC Law advises rights holders on copyright recordal, licensing, and enforcement in Indonesia.

Contact us to discuss your copyright portfolio or any aspect of intellectual property services in Indonesia.

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This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on specific matters, contact enquiries@skclaw.id.