Korean Music Copyright Association Implements New Rules for AI-Generated Music

The Korea Music Copyright Association (한국음악저작권협회, KOMCA) has introduced a new policy to prevent the registration of copyrights for music created using artificial intelligence (AI). As of April 1, the association announced that it has begun requiring new copyright applicants to sign a consent form confirming that their works were created without the use of AI and solely through human creative contribution. While applicants can still submit their works without signing the form, their copyright registration will be put on hold. The consent form also states that if it is later discovered that AI was used, the applicant may face legal consequences, including withholding of royalties and removal of the work.

This decision stems from the current copyright law, which defines a 'work' as a creation that expresses human thoughts or emotions. KOMCA stated that this measure is a proactive step to prevent potential issues arising from ambiguous legal standards, and they plan to request amendments to related laws in the future. However, they noted that collaborative works where human contributions significantly outweigh those of AI may still be recognized as copyrightable, and they are reviewing the criteria for such cases.