Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Constitutional Court (MK) has ruledon Wednesday (17/12/2025)  that event organizers are responsible for paying royalties for commercial music performances and that criminal sanctions in royalty disputes should be used only as a last resort after civil remedies.

The Court also clarified that “reasonable remuneration” must follow tariffs set by authorized regulations, a ruling that applies nationwide, as reported by antaranews.com.

The decision was delivered in response to a judicial review filed by musician Armand Maulana, Ariel NOAH, and other musicians against Law No. 28/2014 on Copyright, particularly provisions governing royalty obligations, payment standards, and criminal enforcement.

The Court rejected challenges to other contested provisions, finding them legally unfounded. 

The case was filed by 29 prominent musicians seeking legal certainty over artists’ economic rights. One constitutional justice issued a dissenting opinion, arguing the petition should have been fully rejected.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)