South Korean Copyright Agency Ends Ban on AI-Assisted Music, Launches Framework For Registration, Royalties
South Korea’s main music copyright collective, KOMCA, has ended its blanket ban on AI-assisted music and introduced rules allowing such works to be registered and receive royalties when humans retain a substantial, leading creative role. The change matters because it seeks to reflect widespread use of AI in music production while preserving copyright protection and income for human creators.
The framework took effect on 3 August, replacing a March 2025 rule that excluded any work involving even minimal AI assistance. A March 2026 audit found that about 5,200 of 8,540 songs sampled from 29 prominent writers were likely AI-assisted; creators must now disclose their AI use, while falsely registering fully AI-generated tracks can lead to withheld or recovered royalties, termination of agreements and penalties of up to three times the improperly received royalties.
In short
- KOMCA now permits AI-assisted music led creatively by humans.
- Creators must disclose how AI was used.
- Fraudulent registrations may face royalty clawbacks and penalties.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The framework pragmatically acknowledges that AI tools are now integral to music production—the audit found AI likely assisted over 60 per cent of sampled works—and regulating rather than banning them makes practical sense. By requiring substantial human creative leadership and imposing meaningful penalties for false registration, including triple damages and agreement termination, it protects human creators' interests whilst reflecting technological reality that an outright ban merely drove underground.
The case against
The framework relies on undefined terms; precisely what level of human input counts as 'substantial, leading creative role' remains unclear and difficult to enforce in complex production environments. The evidence itself undermines the self-disclosure mechanism—the audit revealed composers were already significantly underreporting AI use—yet penalties, however multiplied, rarely prove sufficient deterrent to falsification, risking a race to the bottom where minimal human contribution receives full copyright protection.
Explained simply
KOMCA is South Korea’s main music copyright collective. It manages rights for songwriters and composers, including collecting and distributing royalties when their music is used.
Music makers increasingly use artificial intelligence tools to help create or produce songs. Copyright rules distinguish between human creative contributions and material generated by AI, which may not qualify for the same protection.
The issue matters because registration can affect who receives income when music is played or used. Clear rules aim to recognise human creators’ work while addressing the growing use of AI in music.
AI Asia Entertainment Government Music Politics Technology World