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How to Protect Your Music: A DJ’s Guide to Copyright in Papua New Guinea

Writer: Duncan Huaffe
Duncan Huaffe
Aug 2
2 min read

As a musician, DJ, or producer in Papua New Guinea, your music is your most valuable asset. But how do you stop people from stealing your beats, remixes, or original tracks once you put them online?


There is a lot of confusion about how intellectual property (IP) works in PNG. Today, we are breaking down exactly how the law protects you and the practical steps you can take right now to secure your music.


The Good News: Your Copyright is Automatic

Under the official WIPO legal framework for the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 2000, you do not need to pay money or fill out a form to get basic copyright protection.


According to regional legal breakdowns published on Pacific Legal Network, protection for musical works and sound recordings is automatic across the Pacific. The exact moment you record a beat, save an MP3, or write lyrics down on paper, you legally own the copyright. PNG is also a member country of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), meaning your automatic copyright is legally recognised in over 180 countries worldwide.


However, if someone steals your track, "automatic" protection can be hard to prove without a paper trail. Here is your practical action plan to protect your music.


4 Practical Steps to Protect Your Music in PNG


Step 1: Create a Digital Paper Trail

If someone claims your song is theirs, you must prove you created it first.

  • Save everything: Never delete your early project files (FL Studio, Logic, Cubase), rough phone voice notes, or early mix stems.

  • Keep date stamps: Keep the original, unedited audio files on your hard drive or cloud storage. The metadata contains the exact date and time the file was created.

Step 2: Use an International Digital Distributor

The most effective way to protect your music globally is to use a digital distributor like:

  1. DistroKid

  2. TuneCore

  3. CD Baby


They accept artists from PNG and will upload your music to Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok


When you upload, make sure to opt into automated fingerprinting protection. For example, registering your work via an international service like the


If anyone else downloads your music and tries to upload it to YouTube, the system will automatically flag it, mute it, or send the ad revenue straight to you


Step 3: Formalise Your Brand with IPOPNG

While the local government does not run a registration database for individual song tracks, you can still register your brand names and visual assets. You can check the official portal on Intellectual Property Office of Papua New Guinea (IPOPNG) to learn about protecting your unique business assets.

  • If you have a unique DJ name, band name, or logo, you should formally register it with IPOPNG (which operates under the Investment Promotion Authority - IPA).

  • Read through the IPOPNG Trademark Registration Guide to see how legal title prevents other local DJs or businesses from performing or selling merchandise under your brand name.


Step 4: Display Your Rights Clearly

Don't make it easy for thieves. Whenever you post audio clips or full tracks on your YouTube channel, TikTok, Facebook or website, explicitly state your ownership right next to the track or in the caption

 
 
 

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