The Korean Music Copyright Association (KMCA) will allow the registration of AI-generated music works that involve substantial human creative input.
The KMCA announced that it has established criteria for the reporting and registration of AI music works where humans have played a significant and leading role in the creative process, effective from August 3.
As a result, works where the creator has actively participated in the songwriting, composition, or arrangement process, even if AI was used as a creative tool, can be registered. However, works that are entirely generated by AI through simple prompt input will be excluded from registration.
The KMCA approved amendments to its regulations and terms during its seventh board meeting on July 28. This revision aims to institutionalize the use of AI in the creative process while protecting the rights of human creators. This is the first time that standards for the registration and management of AI-generated music works have been formally established in South Korea.
Previously, the KMCA had withheld registration of AI-generated works due to the lack of legal and institutional standards, which could lead to disputes and rights distortions. However, with the rapid adoption of AI in music creation, the KMCA recognized the need for a framework to manage this new reality.
Under the new criteria, creators applying for registration must report the areas and tools of AI use, the methods employed, and the specific contributions they made. The KMCA may request additional documentation or conduct technical verifications and internal reviews if further confirmation is deemed necessary after registration.
Creators are encouraged to keep relevant materials that explain their creative process and contributions. These materials may include DAW project files, MIDI or sheet music, versioned audio files, revision histories, songwriting and composition notes, prompts and generation histories, original and final AI outputs, and records of collaboration with co-authors.
However, the KMCA will not mandate the submission of any specific document as definitive evidence, nor will it make blanket judgments based solely on the presence or absence of materials. Instead, it will assess the overall documentation that explains the actual work performed by the creator and the use of AI.
If it is confirmed that the reported information is false or that a work generated entirely by AI without substantial human creative contribution has been registered, sanctions may be imposed. The KMCA plans to establish a legal basis for actions such as withholding royalty payments, returning improperly received amounts, and terminating trust contracts. In cases of intentional misconduct or gross negligence, the KMCA may seek penalties up to three times the amount improperly received.
The reporting system for AI works does not involve technical verification or review of the creative process for all AI-generated music prior to registration. Generally, the registration process will proceed based on the information submitted by the creator and their confirmations, but additional technical checks or internal reviews may be conducted if necessary to verify the use of AI or human creative contributions.
The use of AI vocals alone will not determine the registration status of the songwriting and composition parts. The KMCA will accept reports based on the creative actions performed by humans in areas such as songwriting and composition, explaining that issues related to AI voices or performances may be distinct from the registration of music works.
Lee Si-ha, president of the KMCA, stated, "This revision is not about providing all the answers to issues surrounding AI music at once, but rather a first step toward managing the changed creative environment within a structured framework. We will build a reliable management system to ensure that members who create honestly are not disadvantaged and that their rights are protected in accordance with their contributions."
The KMCA will inform its members of the new reporting and registration criteria and plans to refine the verification and review processes for AI-generated music based on accumulated cases, technological advancements, and industry feedback in the future.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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