Indonesia proposes WIPO treaty for fairer creator royalties in digital era
17 October 2025
The Indonesian government has formally proposed a new international legal treaty through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to ensure creators receive fairer and more transparent royalty payments. The initiative aims to modernize global copyright governance for the digital age and establish a more equitable creative economy.
A collaborative effort between Indonesia’s Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, Culture and Creative Economy, the proposal seeks to position the country as a global leader in shaping intellectual property policy.
Justice Minister Supratman Andi Agtas emphasized that the goal is to strengthen the entire creative ecosystem. “If creators cannot gain fair economic value from their work, we cannot expect the next wave of creativity,” he said. The proposal is designed to ensure that artists, composers and journalists receive their rightful share of economic benefits, including through publisher rights for news content.
Agtas also assured that the instrument is designed to complement existing national laws, not conflict with them. “This proposal will not create friction with major countries or their industries,” he stated. “On the contrary, it promotes fairness in royalty distribution across member states.”
A three-pillar framework
Andry Indrady, head of the Policy Strategy Agency, detailed the three core pillars of Indonesia’s proposal. The first, Global Royalty Governance, would establish a WIPO-led international framework to manage licensing, royalty collection and transparent distribution for audio and visual works. The second pillar, User-Centric Distribution, promotes user-based royalty payment systems as a fairer alternative while allowing flexibility for other equitable models. Finally, the proposal calls for stronger management bodies by standardizing governance across all WIPO member states through legally binding mechanisms to improve cross-border royalty management. “Indonesia’s proposal aims to dismantle structural barriers that perpetuate inequality in the global intellectual property regime,” Indrady explained.
This international push is paired with Indonesia’s ongoing reform of its domestic royalty management system. The success of the WIPO proposal now depends on robust diplomatic engagement, with Indonesian diplomats worldwide tasked with securing support for the initiative.
The proposal has received unified backing from the government. Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno pledged the ministry’s full diplomatic support, calling it a “potential breakthrough for global copyright fairness.”
Echoing this, Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya said the reform is essential for the digital economy. “This initiative guarantees fair appreciation for creators, rights holders and the music industry as a whole,” he affirmed.
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
