Client Alert: Government Announces to Waive Official Fees for Copyright Recordation

At a press conference on 26 October 2026, the Minister of Law announced that the government will waive the official fee for the recordation of copyrighted works and related rights. The Minister stated that the Ministry of Law coordinated with the Ministry of Finance to reduce the applicable non-tax state revenue (PNBP) tariff to zero rupiah, referring to the Minister of Finance's letter No. S-360/MK/AG/2026 dated 21 October 2026. The waiver is reported to cover 19 categories of works, including books and other written works, songs and music, fine art, photographs, cinematographic works, computer programs, video games, databases and compilations, and traditional cultural expressions. Previously, only songs and music were exempt from the fee.

Please note that, as we understand it, a formal implementing regulation is yet to be issued. The effective date, the implementation mechanism at the DGIP, and any conditions or limitations are still to be clarified. We will continue to monitor developments and update you once further guidance is available.

Although recordation is not a prerequisite for copyright protection, it is useful evidence of ownership in enforcement and licensing. Clients with unrecorded works such as software, brand artwork, marketing materials, or photographs may wish to consider recordation once the waiver takes effect. Non-urgent filings may be held until the position is clarified, while urgent filings (for example, in connection with an imminent dispute or licensing transaction) may proceed as usual. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your portfolio.