S. Korean gov't eyes new copyright protection standards

By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- The government established two state-run
organizations Tuesday to set clearer criteria for copyrights and their
violations, an issue becoming increasingly complicated and controversial in one
of the world's most heavily wired country.
With the majority of the population connected to broadband Internet, technology
has made it easy for anyone to duplicate and distribute copyrighted work,
including movies, books, music and TV programs. Digital theft is blamed for an
annual loss of more than 2 trillion won (US$ 1.6 billion) in South Korea,
according to recent government data.
But some critics have opposed the government's crackdown, charging it interferes
with their creative rights. Experts also say the regulations are too ambiguous,
confusing ordinary Internet users, many of whom are in their teens.
"We have made tremendous efforts on setting up rules on copyright protection. Now
is time for us to come up with effective standards so that Internet users can
actively trade copyrighted materials within legal boundaries," Culture Minister
Yu In-chon said during the founding ceremony of the copyright commission and the
copyright forum.
The two organizations and experts -- including the chief of the Korea Federation
of Copyright Organizations, Chung Hong-taek; Korea Internet Corporations
Association President Huh Jin-ho; and the chief of the Association for Copyright
Law, Lee Sang-jung -- will focus on coming up with clearer and more adaptable
rules for file-sharing and other copyright protection measures.
The culture ministry said the two organizations will also try to solve conflicts
between file creators and users before cases are taken to court.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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