KOMCA Requires Proof of Human Creation for Music Copyright

To protect musicians’ rights, the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) now requires proof that music was created by humans, not artificial intelligence (AI).

The use of AI in music creation has increased drastically in the past few months. The most recent instance is the use of excessive AI in MADEIN’s debut MV in September last year. Previously, SEVENTEEN also experimented with AI in their MV. 

To address the increased use of artificial intelligence, KOMCA has introduced a new verification process to confirm that the music is created by humans. 

On April 1, it was revealed that a new requirement was introduced to ensure that musical works are created solely by humans, without the involvement of artificial intelligence (AI). 

As of March 24, the Korea Music Copyright Association has been asking copyright reporters to confirm and guarantee that the work in question is entirely the product of human creativity. 

The association took similar action in 2022 when it stopped paying copyright fees for six songs that were revealed to have been created using AI. One of these songs was “Love is 24 Hours” by singer Hong Jin Young.

The Korea Music Copyright Association stated, “We require agreement to take legal responsibility for all civil and criminal disputes arising from false reporting, etc.” They also noted, “If you refuse to agree, your work can still be submitted for reporting purposes, but its registration will be put on hold.” 

KMCA also warned that if AI usage is later discovered, they reserve the right to withhold royalties or even remove the work.

The Korea Music Copyright Association has introduced a new verification process to confirm that music creators did not use artificial intelligence (AI) to make their work. This decision was made due to the increasing number of AI-generated content and the legal issues surrounding copyright that have arisen as a result.

Currently, copyright law states that only creative works expressing human thoughts or emotions can be protected. This means that content created solely by AI does not qualify for copyright protection.