South Korea Reintroduces Copyright Bill to Strengthen Compensation Rights for Audiovisual Creators
South Korean lawmaker Lim Oh-kyung has reintroduced a proposed amendment to the Copyright Act aimed at strengthening compensation rights for audiovisual creators, including directors and screenwriters. The proposal responds to concerns that creators often receive limited financial benefits from commercially successful productions after transferring their copyrights to production companies or other rights holders.
Under the proposed legislation, creators would be entitled to request information about revenues generated by their works and seek additional compensation when those works achieve commercial success through OTT platforms and other distribution channels. The bill would also prevent creators from waiving these compensation rights in advance.
Supporters argue that the amendment could promote fairer revenue distribution and strengthen creators’ bargaining positions. However, production companies and platform operators have raised concerns about potential double compensation and additional financial obligations.
If enacted, the amendment could significantly influence copyright agreements and revenue-sharing arrangements across Korea’s audiovisual industry, particularly in relation to globally distributed streaming content.
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