ISI Yogyakarta and The James F. Sundah Foundation Launch Copyright Research Scholarship

English

Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta and The James F. Sundah Foundation have launched the James F. Sundah Fellowship Program, a research scholarship focused on copyright, royalties, intellectual property rights, the protection of creative works, creators’ rights, and the development of intellectual property policy in the digital era. ISI Yogyakarta announced the launch on 17 June 2026.

The program was launched as part of the commemoration of the 40th day since the passing of the legendary Indonesian composer and songwriter James Freddy Sundah (1955–2026). Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both institutions, the fellowship will support final-year students conducting research on strategic issues in copyright and intellectual property.

The James F. Sundah Foundation, a charitable not-for-profit corporation based in New York, was established by James’s wife, Priscillia Sundah Suntoso, to safeguard, preserve and carry forward the works, ideas and values he left behind. The fellowship is its first program.

Why it matters

According to ISI Yogyakarta, the program is important as digital technology, artificial intelligence and the creative economy increasingly call for strong protection of the intellectual work of artists and cultural practitioners. The scholarship is also expected to produce academic recommendations that the arts community, government, the creative industries and the wider public can use to strengthen Indonesia’s national copyright protection system.

Partners and Selection Committee

Alongside ISI Yogyakarta, the program works with AAPI Creative New York, a creative network of the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora in New York. It is also supported by prominent figures from across disciplines in Indonesia, who serve on the Selection Committee of the James F. Sundah Fellowship Program research scholarship:

• Adi Harsono, senior professional and executive
• Aminoto Kosin, musician, composer, arranger and senior music producer
• Dahlan Iskan, press figure and former Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises
• Naratama Rukmananda, TV director, broadcaster and senior writer
• Wendi Putranto, former music journalist, writer and entrepreneur

“No song, no music industry”

Priscillia Sundah Suntoso, Founder and Chair of The James F. Sundah Foundation, said (translated from Indonesian):

“The establishment of The James F. Sundah Foundation is an expression of the trust and responsibility the late James placed in me to safeguard, manage and preserve his works, together with the values he fought for throughout his life. James always said, ‘no song, no music industry,’ a belief that creators are the foundation of the music industry and that their rights must be respected and protected. Through the James F. Sundah Fellowship Program with ISI Yogyakarta, we hope to encourage research that strengthens understanding of copyright and intellectual property and brings real benefits to future generations.”

The Rector of ISI Yogyakarta, Prof. Dr. Irwandi, M.Sn., welcomed the collaboration and said the fellowship is in line with ISI Yogyakarta’s commitment to arts education that responds to the challenges of the times and makes a real impact on society. He said (translated from Indonesian):

“ISI Yogyakarta welcomes and appreciates the cooperation and scholarship initiative from The James F. Sundah Foundation to support student research. This will strengthen the literacy needed by the arts community and the wider public, especially regarding the intellectual property of artists, which still requires a great deal of study as well as education for arts stakeholders.”

“Amid digital transformation and the development of artificial intelligence technology, copyright protection has become a strategic issue that everyone in the arts must understand. Through this fellowship program, ISI Yogyakarta wants to encourage quality research that can contribute to policy development, the strengthening of the creative industries, and the protection of creators’ rights in Indonesia.”

Wendi Putranto, spokesperson for the Foundation and a member of its research scholarship selection board, said (translated from Indonesian):

“James F. Sundah’s greatest legacy lies not only in his songs, but also in his ideas and his struggle to place songwriters in a rightful and strategic position in Indonesia’s music ecosystem. This research scholarship is the right way to pass those ideas on to a new generation through research, education and the development of knowledge, particularly regarding Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights, which remain very challenging in Indonesia to this day.”

What’s next

The first round of the James F. Sundah Fellowship Program is planned to open for applications in the 2026/2027 academic year. Through this initiative, James F. Sundah’s commitment to placing creators at the heart of the creative ecosystem is expected to live on through a new generation of researchers, artists, academics and policymakers in Indonesia.

Bahasa Indonesia

Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta bersama The James F. Sundah Foundation resmi meluncurkan James F. Sundah Fellowship Program, program beasiswa riset bagi mahasiswa tingkat akhir yang meneliti hak cipta, royalti, hak kekayaan intelektual (HKI), pelindungan karya kreatif, dan hak-hak pencipta. Peluncuran ini merupakan bagian dari peringatan 40 hari wafatnya komponis dan pencipta lagu James Freddy Sundah (1955–2026), berdasarkan Nota Kesepahaman yang telah ditandatangani kedua institusi.

Program ini bekerja sama dengan AAPI Creative New York dan didukung Komite Seleksi yang terdiri atas Adi Harsono, Aminoto Kosin, Dahlan Iskan, Naratama Rukmananda, dan Wendi Putranto. Program perdana direncanakan mulai menerima pendaftaran pada Tahun Akademik 2026/2027.

“Melalui James F. Sundah Fellowship Program bersama ISI Yogyakarta, kami berharap dapat mendorong lahirnya penelitian yang memperkuat pemahaman mengenai hak cipta dan kekayaan intelektual serta memberikan manfaat nyata bagi generasi mendatang,” ujar Priscillia Sundah Suntoso, Pendiri merangkap Ketua The James F. Sundah Foundation.