The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) has officially withdrawn its controversial ban on copyright registration for AI-assisted music, just weeks after the policy triggered a firestorm of criticism from the K-pop industry.

KOMCA board voted on August 25 to rescind the rules, which had taken effect on August 3 and required creators to certify that their works contained zero AI involvement to qualify for copyright registration. The policy had been KOMCA initial response to the growing use of AI tools in music production, but it was widely condemned as an overreach that would penalise artists who use AI as a creative tool.\n Under the revised framework, creators can now register AI-assisted songs for copyright protection, provided they disclose which parts of the work involved AI, what tools were used, and the extent of human creative contribution. The new rules also include penalties for false filings, including royalty holds and contract termination.

The reversal came after South Korea culture ministry issued guidance urging KOMCA to develop more nuanced rules that balance protection of human creativity with the reality of AI adoption in the music industry. K-pop producers had argued that AI tools are already deeply integrated into modern music production workflows and that a blanket ban was impractical and harmful.

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