Internet Content that infringes Copyright

The function of digital social media is not merely to share your personal life in internet. It has now become one of the most effective way to advertising and branding your products or services, either for personal or entity business. The content writer of digital social media often put pictures, songs, videos, words and other forms of audio-visual onto their content to create ads on social media. They either create new various forms of audio-visual which generates original works or incorporate existing works without crediting the author. Such contents which include the original or existing works that is used by content writer are intended for commercial purpose.

The original works created by the author are protected under Copyright Law. Based on Law No. 28 year 2014 on Copyright (Copyright Law), Copyright is an exclusive right of the author that arise automatically based on the principle of declarative after an invention is embodied in a tangible form without prejudice to the restrictions in accordance with the provisions of the legislation. Copyright is also comprised of moral rights and economic rights. Further, the protected works under Copyright Law including but not limited to drawing, painting, calligraphy, songs, music, photographic works, image of a person, cinematographic works and video games.

In this context, any works that has been created are copyrighted. Copying and/or unauthorised reproduction of works without the consent of the author is therefore illegal. There is penalty sanction for the breach of Copyright Law asserting any unauthorised reproduction without the consent of the author shall be convicted with 4 years of imprisonment at most and/or fined a maximum of 1 billion Rupiahs.

To avoid an issue, a content writer must be careful and identify further about the source of the works as to whether the original author is providing a license or permit to use their works. Please bear in mind that all works are copyrighted and they should be wise in using existing works. Alternatively, there are websites providing various themed pictures that people can use it with free license with or without attributions - an act of acknowledgement, such as www.freepik.com. Note that public should read again the license terms carefully before using the existing works.

Written by: Threeas Novayanti