K-POP's Copyright Body Tightens Registration Rules for AI Music

The Korea Music Copyright Association, known as KOMCA, has set new registration rules for music made with artificial intelligence. Songs where a human writer, composer, or arranger played a real creative role can now be registered, even if AI was used as a helper tool. Songs generated entirely by AI from a simple prompt, with no human creative input, will not be accepted.

KOMCA passed the revised rules and terms at its seventh board meeting on October 28. The update puts registration and management standards for AI-assisted music into writing for the first time.

Until now, KOMCA had held off on registering AI-related works to avoid disputes in the absence of clear legal and industry standards. As AI use has grown in the music industry, the association formed an internal task force, sought legal advice, and studied overseas cases before landing on the new rules.

Under the new system, a creator applying to register a song must report which parts of the work involved AI, what tools were used, how they were used, and what the human creator actually did. The applicant also has to confirm and vouch for that information. If KOMCA decides more checking is needed before or after registration, it can ask for supporting materials or open an internal review.

If a filing turns out to be false, or if a work is confirmed to be fully AI-generated with no real human creative contribution, KOMCA can hold back royalty payments, demand the return of money already paid out, and cancel the trust contract with the creator. The association is also moving to update its terms so that in cases of intent or serious negligence, it can charge a penalty of up to three times the amount wrongly received.

"This revision is a first step toward managing a changed creative environment within our system," KOMCA chairman Lee Si-ha said. "We will build a management framework so that creators are guaranteed the rights that match their actual contribution."

KOMCA said it will keep guiding members as the new rules take effect in the field. It also plans to keep updating its review and verification steps as more cases pile up and the technology continues to change.