The Korea Copyright Protection Agency (KCOPA) has established a system that automatically collects information on illegal copies on overseas sites and monitors personnel. In addition, the organization will begin to provide information “needed in the industry through planning and monitoring to respond to various copyright infringement issues.”
During 2024, a department of K-Copyright Monitors will operate with 20 people and will be active for approximately 8 months from April to December.
These Monitors will watch overseas copyright infringement sites that operate in various languages, including English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Spanish; detecting illegally distributed Korean Wave content posts.
Recruitment for Monitors took place during April and was open to anyone over the age of 19 who is interested in content and copyright protection and fluent in a foreign language.
Scope of monitoring
KCOPA has operated overseas offices in China, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines to protect copyrights overseas, and has been monitoring Korean Wave content on overseas pirate distribution sites and blocking illegal postings . As a result, KCOPA succeeded in deleting approximately 210,000 links to illegal copies in 2023.
KCOPA has also been collaborating with law enforcement in Brazil as part of Brazil’s ongoing Operation 404.
Further reading
Overseas illegal distribution sites are caught by K-Copyright Monitors. Press release. April 3, 2024. Korea Copyright Protection Agency (Translated from Korean to English by Google Translate)
Korea Copyright Protection Agency monitors for K-content distributed in other languages overseas. Article. January 18, 2024. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor
Why it matters
“It is very important to take measures to continuously monitor and delete pirated copies of Korean Wave content,” said Park Jeong-ryeol, director of the Korean Copyright Protection Agency. “In addition to monitoring activities to ensure that Korean Wave content is protected and paid for overseas, we also support the conclusion of legal contracts and block infringing sites. We will take the lead in protecting the copyright industry by promoting multifaceted projects, including research,” he said.
