Legal Protection Prospects Traditional Cultural Expression of Lampung

Abstract

The protection of intangible cultural goods, such as oral traditions, is a source of tension between industrialized and developing nations. Many advanced nations argue that culture emerges in the absence of restrictions on normative forms of expression. Using normative approaches, this study examines the current state of traditional cultural expressions in Indonesia and their potential for legal protection in Lampung. The Heritage Law and the Copyright Law both place the onus on regional and municipal governments to conduct cultural inventory, recordings, and documentation to preserve Indonesia's rich cultural heritage. Traditional cultural manifestations in Indonesia are not now protected by a government-enacted statute. Lampung Province is home to a wealth of intangible and tangible cultural expressions that deserve legal protection. Such expressions could be safeguarded by provincial, regional, and municipal regulations that establish a hierarchical framework for protecting Lampung's traditional cultural expressions following the Copyright Law. To prevent other countries from readily claiming their intellectual assets, the Provincial Government of Lampung must work with the community, local government, and the central government to establish regional legislation to protect traditional cultural manifestations.