Jakarta. The government is considering proposals to formally recognize and protect journalistic works under the country’s copyright law, as policymakers seek to balance rapid technological change with the sustainability of the media industry.

Supratman Andi Agtas said his ministry has received various inputs on how journalistic content should be protected within the Copyright Law, adding that the proposals will be further studied before being incorporated into legislation.

“I have received suggestions on how journalistic works should be protected under the Copyright Law,” Supratman said on Thursday after meeting with stakeholders at the Press Council in Jakarta.

The government plans to continue consultations with media groups and other stakeholders to refine the legal framework to formulate provisions that clearly define the status of journalistic content as protected intellectual property.

The move comes as Indonesia revises its Copyright Law, with a draft bill currently under discussion at parliament’s legislative body. Supratman expressed support for provisions in the draft that recognize journalistic works as copyright-protected creations, signaling alignment between the government and lawmakers on the issue.

Indonesia’s media industry has been grappling with the impact of digital disruption, including the rise of online platforms, content aggregation, and artificial intelligence, which have reshaped how news is produced, distributed, and monetized.

Supratman said technological advances have accelerated information flows but warned they should not undermine the economic viability of media organizations.

“We are facing massive technological disruption that cannot be avoided. While it helps speed up information delivery, we hope it also provides economic value to our media industry, not destroy it,” he said.

Media groups have long pushed for stronger legal protection to address concerns over content scraping, unauthorized redistribution, and declining advertising revenues in the digital era.

The Law Ministry is awaiting a presidential letter authorizing formal government representation in parliamentary deliberations on the bill. Despite that, Supratman said the government has prepared its position and is targeting completion of the revised Copyright Law within this year.

Add as a preferred source on Google +