TLDR: The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) has put forward comprehensive proposals for improving the copyright system in the era of artificial intelligence. These proposals, discussed at the ‘2025 Korea-China Intellectual Property Society International Academic Conference,’ emphasize transparent management of AI training data, a rational compensation system for creators, and mandatory labeling of AI-generated works. This initiative builds upon KOMCA’s earlier directive from March 2025, which mandated disclosure of AI involvement in song creation and deemed purely AI-generated music ineligible for copyright registration, positioning South Korea as a frontrunner in regulating AI’s impact on intellectual property.
Seoul, South Korea – The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) is actively shaping the future of intellectual property in the age of artificial intelligence, recently presenting a detailed vision for an improved AI copyright system. These forward-looking proposals were unveiled at the ‘2025 Korea-China Intellectual Property Society International Academic Conference,’ held on November 7th at the Seoul office of the Korea Copyright Commission. The conference, hosted by the Korea-China Intellectual Property Society, convened approximately 30 academic and legal experts from both Korea and China, alongside officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Copyright Commission, to deliberate on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Protection.’
Chu Kayul, Chairman of the Korea Music Copyright Association, underscored the profound impact of AI on the creative sector. He stated, “The use of generative AI is transforming the creative environment and industrial structure.” Chairman Chu emphasized the critical need to delineate the roles of human creators and AI, advocating for “transparent management of training data, a rational compensation system, and mandatory labeling of AI-generated works.” He further highlighted that “it is essential to establish a system in which appropriate compensation for the resulting works is fairly returned to the creators,” acknowledging that AI expands its functions by learning from human creative works. The Chairman also called for enhanced cooperation between Korea and China in intellectual property, pledging that KOMCA would ensure these multi-stakeholder discussions translate into tangible institutional improvements.
The academic conference featured two main presentation sections. The first delved into complex legal issues spurred by technological advancements, covering topics such as algorithm protection, litigation challenges related to generative AI, safeguarding legal interests in AI contexts, and patent law implications for AI. The second section focused on more specific areas, including the processing of AI training data, AI-based intellectual property management, and emerging cases of prompt copyright infringement.
This latest initiative from KOMCA is a continuation of its proactive stance on AI and copyright. Earlier in 2025, effective March 24, KOMCA implemented stringent new regulations requiring all artists and songwriters to explicitly declare any involvement of AI in the creative process of their songs. Under these rules, compositions created solely or predominantly by AI are deemed ineligible for copyright registration. False declarations carry severe consequences, including the suspension of royalty payments or the complete removal of the work from the copyright registry. This landmark directive positions South Korea as one of the first nations to formally regulate the integration of AI-generated works into national copyright systems, reflecting KOMCA’s commitment to preserving the integrity of human-authored music and protecting the rights of traditional creators.
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While the current regulations cover all songs with AI input, KOMCA is still actively exploring how to address ‘AI-assisted’ songs. These are cases where AI tools are used for support, such as generating topics, titles, or contributing parts of a melody or riff. The association acknowledges that such AI-assisted works have been recognized as creative content in other countries and plans to conduct further hearings and research to develop a suitable system for them. This ongoing dialogue and regulatory evolution demonstrate South Korea’s dedication to navigating the complex intersection of artificial intelligence and creative rights.
