"Game Copyright Disputes... Need to Clarify Infringement Regulations"

Participants of the discussion forum "How to Protect Game Copyrights" held on the 21st are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Yonhap News

As legal disputes over game copyrights continue, there have been suggestions to establish a system that clearly determines copyright infringement.

On the 21st, Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Yoon-duk and Lim Oh-kyung held a forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building titled "How to Protect Game Copyrights." The discussion aimed to address measures against recent issues in the game industry such as game copying and project leaks by former employees.

First, Kim Chan-dong, a team leader at the Korea Copyright Commission, presented on legal issues surrounding game copyrights and related precedents. Kim explained, "Domestic copyright law has protected only expressions, not ideas, based on the dichotomy between ideas and expressions. Furthermore, if the ways to express an idea are extremely limited, the expression itself is not protected."

Professor Yoo Chang-seok of Kyung Hee University's Department of Culture and Entertainment pointed out, "Games have had relatively lower rates of illegal copying compared to movies or music, but recently new forms of copyright infringement such as private servers and illegal programs have emerged."

He suggested, "To establish effective copyright protection policies, efforts are needed in policy planning based on scientific analysis and developing new revenue structures at the private sector level. International cooperation should also be expanded."

Specifically, Professor Yoo proposed ▲ improving copyright protection statistical models ▲ diversifying tiered access approaches ▲ establishing a continuous response system utilizing AI technology.

Attorney Kang Tae-wook of the law firm Taepyungyang also stated, "We cannot wait for courts to create precedents," and recommended, "Research on domestic and overseas game copyright dispute cases and standards for determining infringement is necessary."

He added, "Introducing an objection system at the game copyright registration stage and implementing copyright trust and consignment management systems for small and medium developers should also be considered."

Lawmaker Lim Oh-kyung said on the day, "The domestic game industry is facing a 'triple hardship' of declining sales, competition from China, and copyright infringement damages," adding, "Among these, serious copyright infringement and measures to protect consumer rights are urgently needed."