Korean govt to exclude AI content from copyright protection

SEOUL: The culture ministry announced Wednesday it will not grant copyright registration to artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, drawing a clear line on the controversial issue of whether to legally recognise the creativity of such content, reported Yonhap.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism unveiled the plan as part of a set of measures aimed at positioning the country as a global leader in copyright protection.

The decision comes amid the ongoing global debate over the legitimacy of AI as a creative entity.

The ministry, which oversees the country's copyright protection policy, has been engaged in discussions to establish useful guidelines for cultural industry players facing the challenges posed by the AI era.

After an intense debate, the ministry stated that it has decided not to allow copyright registration for AI-generated content created without creative intervention by humans.

Registration is deemed possible only for creations that demonstrably convey human thoughts and emotions, the ministry added.

The decision will soon be published in an "AI copyright guidebook" for AI businesses, copyright holders, and users, according to the ministry.

The guidelines also specify that AI businesses need to provide fair compensation to copyright holders to secure the rights to use their products.

Copyright holders are advised to clearly express their intentions or take technical measures to prevent the use of their creations for AI studying, according to the essence of the guidelines unveiled by the ministry.

"It is essential for the country to actively and proactively respond to the new copyright environment, as the development of new AI technologies is bringing new changes in creation," Culture Minister Yu In-chon said during a press briefing to announce the plans in Seoul.

--BERNAMA-YONHAP