Jakarta, Dec. 29 -- The Indonesian government has issued a circular mandating the payment of song and music royalties in commercial public spaces.

The Law Ministry's Director General of Intellectual Property Hermansyah Siregar said the rule ensures clarity and protects creators' economic rights.

"Through this circular, songs and music played to support business activities-such as in restaurants, cafes, hotels, shopping centers, entertainment venues, and even modes of transportation-are categorized as commercial utilization," Siregar said in a statement confirmed here on Monday.

Therefore, commercial public service users must pay royalties via the National Collective Management Organization (LMKN) under copyright regulations.

According...