KOMCA Introduces Mandatory AI-Free Declarations For Song Registrations
South Korea’s leading music copyright body, the Korean Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), has rolled out a new rule that requires creators to formally declare that artificial intelligence was not involved in the songwriting process.
The policy, which came into effect on 24 March, mandates all new registrants to confirm that the work was created solely through human effort.
Zero Tolerance For AI Contributions In Songwriting
Under the updated policy, songwriters must tick a box during registration, guaranteeing that “the work you are reporting did not utilize AI and was created solely through human creative contributions.”
KOMCA has confirmed this means “0%” AI involvement is allowed for a song to be accepted into its system.
If a registrant is found to have falsely declared human authorship, KOMCA may withhold royalty payments or remove the work entirely.
Creators must also agree to bear full legal responsibility for any civil or criminal disputes resulting from false claims.
The organisation said,
“Actions such as withholding payment or deleting copyrighted works may be taken in accordance with the association’s policy.”
KOMCA Tightens Rules Amid Rapid Rise In AI Music
The association cited the growing use of generative AI in music creation as the reason behind its stricter controls.
KOMCA stated on its website,
“Due to recent advancements in AI technology, the amount of music output using AI is rapidly increasing,”
However, the organisation acknowledged that its current stance is a temporary measure while South Korea continues to refine its legal standards around AI-generated content.
Policy Targets Songwriting, Not Audio Recordings
It’s important to note that KOMCA’s policy applies strictly to songwriting—the creative composition of lyrics and melodies—and not to recorded music.
Several South Korean K-pop companies, including HYBE, have already embraced AI in recorded performances, using the technology to generate multilingual vocal tracks.
KOMCA’s catalog includes over 3.7 million works and serves a membership of around 30,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers, including high-profile names like BTS, Psy, and Super Junior.
Stricter Than National Copyright Guidelines
The new rule from KOMCA goes beyond the Korean government’s general stance on AI and copyright.
In 2023, the Korea Copyright Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated that while fully AI-generated works cannot be copyrighted, human-created elements within an AI-assisted piece could still qualify for copyright protection.
This is in contrast to KOMCA’s current position, which treats any AI involvement, no matter how small, as disqualifying for song registration.
Past Precedents Point To KOMCA’s Strict Approach
KOMCA’s tough stance isn’t new.
In 2022, it revoked royalty payments for six tracks created by an AI songwriter known as EvoM.
The association’s latest move reinforces its position that only fully human-made songs are eligible for registration.
That said, KOMCA indicated the policy could evolve.
It is still reviewing how to manage songs that involve minimal AI input, such as the use of AI to generate themes or titles.
Global Debate Mirrors Korea’s AI Copyright Challenge
The issue reflects a broader international debate.
In the United States, the Copyright Office recently reaffirmed that copyright protection is only granted to works that include a significant degree of human creativity.
In March, the US Court of Appeals upheld a ruling denying copyright to an AI-generated artwork created by computer scientist Dr. Stephen Thaler.
The court found that “the Copyright Act of 1976 requires all eligible work to be authored in the first instance by a human being.”
Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director of the US Copyright Office, added,
“Extending protection to material whose expressive elements are determined by a machine... would undermine rather than further the constitutional goals of copyright.”
However, US policy does allow for some human-AI collaborations, as long as the human input is “sufficiently expressive” and modifies or incorporates the AI-generated content meaningfully.
For instance, editing, drafting, or creatively guiding the production process may still qualify for copyright.
Uncertainty Remains Over Future Of AI-Assisted Music
For now, KOMCA’s strict rule leaves no room for AI tools, no matter how minor their involvement.
But with the legal landscape still developing, both in Korea and globally, the boundary between assistance and authorship is likely to remain a contentious issue.
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