- Seoul Copyright Forum to kick off on June 4, 2024, with online live streaming

- Joined by Copyright experts from the US, Japan, EU and global AI industries

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST), together with the Korea Copyright Commission (Acting Commissioner LEE Dae Hee, KCC), is set to hold the Seoul Copyright Forum 2024 under the theme “Generative AI & Copyright: Striking a New Balance” at The Ambassador Seoul -A Pullman Hotel on June 4 (Tue). This forum will also be live-streamed online on the KCC’s YouTube channel, in line with the keen global interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright.[1]

As generative AI technology continues to evolve after the emergence of ChatGPT, around the world, voices demanding the need to establish new norms surrounding AI are growing. In particular, considering the series of processes in which hyperscale AIs are trained on large amounts of data (including copyrighted works) and generate output based on their training (deep learning), the copyright issue has become one of the most crucial issues today. Major problems include whether and how to compensate for copyrighted works used in AI learning, the rights and responsibilities for products created using AI, and those related to AI-generated content using the likeness and voices of celebrities.

At the Seoul Copyright Forum 2023 held in October last year, the MCST collected opinions from stakeholders on various copyright issues brought about by generative AI and examined the status of policy initiatives in major countries. In Seoul Copyright Forum 2024, the ministry plans to build on last year’s discussions and comprehensively confer more specific and realistic ways to solve the pending issues.

Attendees to Discuss Practical Solutions by Examining the Status of Each Country’s Policies Related to the AI Industry and Copyright Protection, including the Positions of Industry and Academia

The forum will first look into the policy status in major countries, such as Korea, the United States, Japan, and the European Union (EU), to see how these countries strike balance between the AI industry and copyright protection. Professor LEE Dae Hee from Korea University School of Law, who chairs the AI-Copyright Working Group (Round 2) administered by the MCST, will deliver the keynote speech on behalf of Korea, followed by speeches by Attorney-Advisor Darren Pogoda of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Senior Attorney-Advisor Yukihiro Miwa of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs, and Professor Thomas Margoni at KU Leuven, Belgium. The speakers will present the status of each country’s policy initiatives on generative AI and copyright.  

Then, the forum will examine the balance points from the perspective of the AI industry and the copyright academia. Officials from Microsoft as well as Konan Technology and Professor CHA Sang Yook from Kyungpook National University School of Law will share their views on the subject representing the perspective of AI industry and academia respectfully.  Following the session will be a general discussion chaired by Professor LEE Chul Nam from Chungnam National University School of Law where all participants are invited to discuss practical solutions on copyright-related matters with the rise of generative AI.

Marking its 17th anniversary since 2008, the Seoul Copyright Forum is considered to be one of the leading international forums in the field of copyright. Anyone interested in the topic can participate with an advance registration through the official website (www.seoulcopyrightforum.com). Remote participants can also join online through live streaming sessions.

JUNG Hyangmi, Director General of Copyright Bureau, stated, “The forum will enable us to identify the latest policy trends of key countries related to generative AI as well as copyright issues arising with the trend that are being a world-wide interest. The forum will also be an opportunity for us to examine solutions proposed from the field of not only the government but also from the industry, the copyright sector and academia, relevant to the balance between the development of the AI industry and copyright protection.” She added, “The main outcomes of the forum will be facilitated within the AI-Copyright Working Group(Round 2) operated by the ministry and will be further discussed to seek solutions to copyright issues arising with AI learning and its outputs.”