[Copyright] Legal review of copyright infringement issues related to game works within SNS platforms.

Law firm Veat has conducted legal review regarding the potential for copyright infringement issues related to SNS platforms, taking on a request from SNS platform A.

Law firm Veat checked A’s services and comprehensively reviewed legal issues concerning copyright infringement arising from videos uploaded by users.

Furthermore, Law firm Veat provided detailed guidance to the customer company, an online service provider, regarding the direction they should take when videos are suspected of copyright infringement.

The Supreme Court determined that in the case of game copyrights, which have a complex nature due to the combination of works such as literary works, musical works, artistic works, video works, and computer program works, characters, items, and background screens that react according to a predetermined scenario and game rules in response to the manipulation of game users, as well as the computer program to technically operate them, and the video and background music implemented through them are organically combined (Judgment of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2019, Case No. 2017da212095).

Therefore, a comprehensive review is needed to determine if diverse and complex copyrights, such as game copyrights, are subject to application under copyright laws and related regulations.

Given that online service providers have a duty to take appropriate measures such as deleting posts and preventing similar posts with similar content from being posted in the same internet space, if they violate these measures, enabling the copyright infringement of the poster, liability as a conspirator for aiding and abetting (Judgment of the Supreme Court on March 11, 2010, Case No. 2009da4343) applies.

Therefore, it is recommended that online service providers receive meticulous legal review to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

Given the current situation where diverse creative works are uploaded to SNS, numerous copyright-related issues are occurring. SNS platform operating companies deal with various works, so it is recommended to carefully discuss with experienced lawyers regarding copyright matters to avoid disputes.

Law firm Veat operates the TIP (Technology. Intellectual Property) team, which provides enhanced services in the fields of copyright and intellectual property. The TIP team is led by Partner Partner Mr. Oh Seungjong, a recognized authority in intellectual property rights, and includes Partner Mr. An Il-won, a community expert with the Korea Copyright Commission, and Partner Mr. Jeon Yong-hwan, who has been responsible for legal consulting related to ICT and regulatory sandbox.

If you have any inquiries regarding copyright infringement or intellectual property rights, please contact Law firm Veat.

Thank you.

Law firm Veat.