Mass Crackdown on Illegal Video Streaming Apps and Sites... Response Remains Minimal

5544 Cases Detected from March Last Year to August This Year
Only Seven Deletions Taken... Contrast with Illegal Music

The response of the Korea Copyright Protection Agency to illegal video streaming applications (apps) and sites has been found to be inadequate. According to the 'Status of Detection of Illegal Distribution Streaming Apps and Sites' disclosed by Kim Seung-su, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the People Power Party, on the 11th, 5,544 cases were detected from March last year to August this year, but only seven cases were deleted.

The Korea Copyright Protection Agency has been conducting remote monitoring since March last year. The number of mobile apps detected until December last year was 1,286, with 387.56 million installations. This year, until August, the numbers were 4,258 cases and 4.3645 billion installations, respectively. The nationality of the mobile apps or the number of copyrighted works infringed was not identified.

The Korea Copyright Protection Agency can request deletion from Google as a government agency after review by the Copyright Protection Deliberation Committee. However, only seven cases have been processed. This contrasts with the response to illegal music streaming mobile apps. During the same period, 4,426 cases were detected and support was provided for the deletion of 615 cases. Information on 2,589 cases was also provided to rights holder organizations.

The Korea Copyright Protection Agency explained, "No information was provided because there was no cooperation request from rights holders in the video sector." They added, "Unlike music, there is no organization handling copyright rights in the video sector, making it difficult to identify or prove rights relationships."

Assemblyman Kim said, "As the K-content market expands, cases of rights infringement against video creators are increasing," and emphasized, "The Korea Copyright Protection Agency, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the National Police Agency, and the Gambling Industry Integrated Supervision Commission must cooperate and respond actively." He also said, "It is problematic that harmful advertisements such as gambling are exposed on illegal video streaming apps and sites," and added, "Urgent comprehensive measures are needed to put a stop to this vicious cycle."