Cartoonists Association Welcomes Pito's Court Victory: "No Copyright for Ideas Alone"

Victory after 7 years against platform head's unfair co-authorship claim
Court rules: "Copyright is recognized only when contributing to substantive artwork and story"
Push to eliminate unfair practices in the comics industry and establish new creator protection systems

Pito's debut work, 'My Fulfillment'

The Korea Cartoonists Association announced on the 26th that it supports author Pito, who won a copyright lawsuit against the head of a webtoon platform.

In this case, the platform head used his superior position to provide only a simple idea to a rookie author who was a minor, then listed himself as a co-author and took a share of the profits. Author Pito has been engaged in a legal battle for seven years against this unfair contract.

The court ruled that one cannot obtain copyright merely by participating in planning or proposing ideas, and that rights are vested only in those who contribute to substantive creation, such as continuity, artwork, and story. The ruling made it clear that comics are works completed through highly creative labor, not just simple conceptualization.

Kwon Hyukjoo, President of the Korea Cartoonists Association, said, "It took as long as seven years to confirm the common-sense principle that you cannot be recognized as a copyright holder unless you contribute to actual creation," adding, "We will respond firmly to unfair practices in which vulnerable creators have their rights taken away."

The Korea Cartoonists Association plans to share the intent of this ruling across the entire industry and to swiftly establish institutional safeguards to protect minor and rookie creators.