South Korea Allows Copyright for AI-Assisted Songs

South Korea will allow creators to register copyright for songs made with AI assistance, provided they have a substantial role—such as writing lyrics, composing music, or doing the arrangement—according to local media reports on Wednesday (5/8).

According to the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA), songs generated entirely by AI based on simple text prompts remain ineligible for copyright registration, the Korea Herald reported.

The move changes the association’s previous policy, which rejected registration of AI-assisted works due to concerns over potential copyright disputes and the absence of clear standards.

“The purpose of this revision is to formally recognise creative practices involving AI assistance while protecting the rights of human creators,” KOMCA said in a statement.

Applicants are required to disclose the AI tools used, explain how they were applied in the creative process, and guarantee the accuracy of the information provided.

If further verification is needed, KOMCA may request supporting materials—such as digital audio workstation project files, editing histories, musical scores, prompt records, and AI generation logs—to assess the extent of human involvement in the creation of the work.

Producers are permitted to use AI to generate ideas, melodies, or arrangements, but they must be able to prove that crucial creative decisions were made by humans.

Works that are later proven to have been created entirely by AI or registered with false information may be subject to sanctions including suspension of royalty payments, an obligation to return royalties received unlawfully, and termination of the copyright management agreement.

KOMCA is also considering imposing fines of up to three times the value of royalties received unlawfully in cases of intentional violation or gross negligence.

The association stated that the policy is the first official standard in South Korea for the registration of AI-assisted music, while also integrating such works into the existing copyright system.