[p]The Indonesian music industry is once again shaken by a crucial issue regarding cross-border copyright protection and royalty management. Renowned Indonesian singer-songwriter Ardhito Pramono has filed a civil lawsuit for alleged breach of contract against his former record label, PT Sony Music Entertainment Indonesia (SMEI), at the Central Jakarta District Court. The dispute stems from the widespread unauthorized use of Ardhito's hit tracks as background music in various South Korean entertainment programs, raising serious concerns over synchronization rights licensing and royalty transparency.[/p]
[h3]The Origin of Unauthorized Use in the Land of Ginseng[/h3]
[p]The name Ardhito Pramono is no stranger to the Indonesian pop-jazz music scene. Since releasing his extended plays (EPs) [i]Crazyminded[/i] (2017) and [i]Letter to My 13 Year Old Self[/i] (2019), his vintage musical style and distinct vocals have attracted broad public attention—not only domestically, but also across East Asia.[/p]
[p]Irregularities began to surface when several of Ardhito's popular songs were frequently heard scoring scenes in reality shows, commercial broadcasts, and films produced by television stations and media platforms in South Korea. Four major songs involved in this dispute include:[/p]
[ul]
[li][b]Fine Today[/b] (also popular as the original soundtrack for the movie [i]Nanti Kita Cerita tentang Hari Ini[/i])[/li]
[li][b]Bitterlove[/b][/li]
[li][b]Say Hello[/b][/li]
[li][b]925[/b][/li]
[/ul]
[p]Under copyright law, embedding music into audio-visual media (such as films, advertisements, or television programs) requires a specific authorization known as a [b]Synchronization Right[/b]. Such usage carries the obligation to obtain an official license and provide royalty compensation to the songwriters as well as related rights holders.[/p]
[h3]Grounds for the Lawsuit and Involvement of LMK WAMI[/h3]
[p]Ardhito pursued legal action after attempting to clarify the licensing workflow and royalty distribution of his works. Through his legal counsel, Adityo Ramadhan, Ardhito's team uncovered indications of irregularities regarding financial compensation:[/p]
[ol]
[li][b]Withholding of Royalties for the 2022–2025 Period:[/b] Based on clarification letters, the label is alleged to have withheld related rights royalties belonging to Ardhito amounting to IDR 705 million for the 2022 to 2025 period without transparent sales or commercialization reports.[/li]
[li][b]Clarification from Wahana Musik Indonesia (WAMI):[/b] The label initially argued that royalty collection from South Korea was handled by the Collective Management Organization (LMK) WAMI. However, after official confirmation, WAMI stated that it had never issued synchronization licenses nor collected royalty funds for the use of Ardhito's songs in South Korea.[/li]
[/ol]
[p]The failure to reach an agreement after sending three formal warning letters (somasi) and conducting independent mediation led Ardhito's team to file a civil lawsuit under case number 577/Pdt.G/2026 at the Central Jakarta District Court, claiming material and immaterial damages totaling IDR 5.7 billion.[/p]
[h3]Key Parties and Entities Involved[/h3]
[p]To fully understand the landscape of this legal dispute, here is an overview of the key individuals and entities referenced in the case:[/p]
[ul]
[li][b]Ardhito Pramono (Plaintiff):[/b] A singer, songwriter, and actor from Jakarta. Known for his jazz and indie-pop exploration, his works enjoy a strong listener base across regional digital streaming platforms.[/li]
[li][b]PT Sony Music Entertainment Indonesia / SMEI (Defendant):[/b] A subsidiary of Sony Music Group, one of the world's major record labels. SMEI holds master and distribution rights for several of Ardhito's early works created during their contractual partnership period.[/li]
[li][b]Wahana Musik Indonesia / WAMI (LMK):[/b] A non-profit Collective Management Organization in Indonesia responsible for collecting and distributing copyright royalties (performing rights) for songwriters and music publishers when works are used in public spaces.[/li]
[li][b]Synchronization Right:[/b] Legal permission granting audio-visual producers the right to combine (synchronize) musical works with visual images in films, television shows, commercials, or digital media formats.[/li]
[/ul]
[h3]Defendant's Response and Industry Implications[/h3]
[p]Responding to the ongoing lawsuit at the Central Jakarta District Court, the legal team representing Sony Music Entertainment Indonesia stated their readiness to follow all judicial proceedings. The label opted to refrain from extensive public commentary outside the courtroom, emphasizing that they will examine the plaintiff's claims through legal evidence and formal court mechanisms. The panel of judges has scheduled the continuation of the trial for mediation and verification of the legal standing of both parties.[/p]
[p]Ardhito Pramono's case serves as a major wake-up call for the domestic music ecosystem. The growing global footprint of local music highlights how crucial contract transparency, professional royalty administration, and international Intellectual Property (IP) protection are to ensure musicians are not deprived of their rightful creative rewards.[/p]
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