Living Law and the Digitalization of Communal Intellectual Property: The Dialectic of Customary Law and the National Data Center
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25217/jm.v10i2.6643Keywords:
Communal Intellectual Property, Customary Law, Digitalization, Living LawAbstract
The digitization of Communal Intellectual Property (KIK) through the National Data Center is a strategic policy to prevent biopiracy and strengthen legal protection. However, this step presents a dilemma: providing formal legal certainty, but potentially shifting the living law that grows in the socio-cultural practices of indigenous communities. The objective and problem formulation are to analyze the interaction between the digitization of KIK and customary law, and to find solutions so that formal legal certainty can go hand in hand with the sustainability of living law. The theory and method used are Eugen Ehrlich's theory of living law, which emphasizes law as something alive in social interactions. The research method is a normative-critical approach with socio-legal analysis. The results show that the digitization of KIK is important for documentation and strengthening the legal position at the international level. However, there are risks of bureaucratization, homogenization, and state domination. Recommendations: build a community-based participatory system supported by blockchain technology, smart contracts, and recognition of customary law in national regulations.
References
Achmad Asfi Burhanudin. (2021). The Existence of Customary Law in the Era of Modernization. Salimiya Journal of Islamic Religious Studies, 2(4), 96–113.
Andini Eka Budiyanto. (2023). Legal Analysis of the Use of Smart Contracts from the Perspective of the Principle of Freedom of Contract. Journal of Science Student Research, 1(1), 815–827. https://doi.org/10.61722/jssr.v1i1.402
Ayu, I., & Girindra, V. (2023). The Potential Use of Blockchain in Intellectual Property Rights Management in Indonesia: Opportunities and Obstacles. Jurnal Esensi Hukum, 5(1), 53–59. https://journal.upnvj.ac.id/index.php/esensihukum/index
Disantara, FP (2021). The Concept of Indonesian Legal Pluralism as a Strategy for Facing the Era of Legal Modernization. Al-Adalah: Journal of Islamic Law and Politics, 6(1), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.35673/ajmpi.v6i1.1129
Disantara, FP (2024). Innovative Legal Approaches for Contemporary Challenges in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Innovation Studies, 25(4), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijins.v25i4.1241
EB, GA (2023). Cultural Globalization, Homogenization, and Its Influence on Local Cultural Identity. Janaloka: Journal of Communication Science, 1(2), 71–80. https://journals.usm.ac.id/index.php/janaloka/article/view/8222%0Ahttps://journals.usm.ac.id/index.php/janaloka/article/download/8222/3677
Hamisa, W., Pratiwi, YS, Fijianto, D., & Alfaris, L. (2023). Efforts to Maintain National Identity for the Younger Generation in the Era of Globalization. Innovative: Journal of Social Science Research, 3(3), 7463–7472. http://j-innovative.org/index.php/Innovative/article/view/3008
Hardiyanti, M., & Sugiyanto, S. (2023). The Relevance of Living Law Theory in the Indigenous Peoples Bill in a Prismatic Legal State System. Progressive Law and Society, 1(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.14710/pls.20870
Jufianty Trisna Putri. (2024). The Existence of Living Law as a Manifestation of Indigenous Communities in the Reform of the National Criminal Law System. Execution: Journal of Law and Public Administration, 2(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.55606/eksekusi.v2i2.1080
Kusuma, PH, & Roisah, K. (2022). Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions and Geographical Indications: Intellectual Property with Communal Ownership. Journal of Indonesian Legal Development, 4(1), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.14710/jphi.v4i1.107-120
Lubis, MA, Lubis, HF, & Zulyadi, R. (2024). Introduction to State Science Complete with Classical to Modern Forms of State and Government. In Eureka Media Aksara. Eureka Media Aksara.
Lubis, M. Yusrizal Adi & MA (2024). Constitutional Law. In Constitutional Law (I, pp. 1–250). Eureka Media Aksara. https://repository.penerbiteureka.com/publications/563313/hukum-tata-negara
Lutfiana, AF (2021). The Special Characteristics of Qanun in Aceh from a Sociological Jurisprudence Perspective According to Eugen Ehrlich. Journal of Law and Economic Development, 8(2), 199. https://doi.org/10.20961/hpe.v8i2.49770
Mardhiah, ZA (2025). The Impact of Using Blockchain Technology in the Development of Islamic Religious Education Learning Materials to Increase Accessibility. 5(4). https://doi.org/10.59818/jpi.v5i4.1929
Nadia Carolina Weley, Viona Puspita, Nurlaly, Idham, GA (2024). The Role of Customary Law and National Law in Protecting Traditional Knowledge as Communal Intellectual Property. Barelang Journal of Legal Studies, 2(1), 17–56.
Novyta Uktolseja. (2025). Strengthening The Role Of Customary Law In The Enforcement Of Criminal And Civil Law In Coastal Communities. 2(1), 602–617.
Nurul Fitriani, & Adi Sulistiyono. (2024). Legal Protection of Communal Intellectual Property for Traditional Herbal Medicine as Traditional Knowledge. Aliansi: Journal of Law, Education and Social Humanities, 1(3), 253–279. https://doi.org/10.62383/aliansi.v1i3.226
Nurwarsih;, NWWC (2025). Mapping the Collective Identity of Tumbu Village, Karangasem, Bali: A Historical and Landscape Study Based on Inscription Data and Customary Rules Mapping the Collective Identity of Tumbu Village, Karangasem, Bali: A Historical and Landscape Study Based on Inscription. April, 222–239.
Rongiyati, S. (nd). Intellectual Property Rights over Traditional Knowledge. 213–238.
Sukanto, S. (1990). Empirical Legal Research Methodology (1st ed.). University of Indonesia.
Sukanto, S. and SM (2009). Normative Legal Research: A Brief Review. PT Raja Grafindo Persada.
Sulistianingsih, D., Adhi, YP, & Pujiono, P. (2021). Digitalization of Communal Intellectual Property in Indonesia. Proceedings of Justice Conferences, 7(2), 650. https://proceeding.unnes.ac.id/index.php/snh/article/view/723
Susilowati Herry. (2000). Critique of Eugen Ehrlich's Sociological Jurisprudence. In Perspective (Vol. 5, p. 36).
Widya, A., Pratama, S., Rangga, C., Rifky, M., Prayitno, A., Purnomo, AF, Hermawan, OD, Tidar, U., Modern, H., Digital, E., Era, D., Technology, D., Rights, C., History, A., Checker, P., & Attribution-, C. (2024). Tension Between Modern Law and Customary Traditions: The Case of Customary Law Implementation in the Digital Era. Journal of Law and Citizenship, 5(10), 0–3.
Widyastuti, B. (2021). A Study of Criminal Social Work from the Perspective of Legal Sociology. Journal of Law and Economic Development, 8(2), 56. https://doi.org/10.20961/hpe.v8i2.49756
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Citra Ramadhan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the Jurnal Mahkamah : Kajian Ilmu Hukum Dan Hukum Islam right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY-SA 4.0) that allows others to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) the work for any purpose, even commercially with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in Jurnal Mahkamah : Kajian Ilmu Hukum Dan Hukum Islam.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Mahkamah : Kajian Ilmu Hukum Dan Hukum Islam.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).






