Introduction to New Regulatory Measures
The South Korean Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (KCC) is pushing forward with amendments to the enforcement decree under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc. This legislative movement comes as a strategic follow-up to the legal provisions established in January, mandating content delivery network (CDN) providers to implement technical and managerial measures to block the distribution of illegal content.
Focus on Large CDN Providers
The amendment specifies that the rule applies to CDN operators in South Korea generating over 1 billion KRW in telecommunications service revenue. Major players like Amazon Corporate Services Korea and Akamai Technologies fall under this criterion, spotlighting their pivotal role in curbing illegal content dissemination.
Enhanced Responsibilities and Obligations
Under the new regulation, CDN providers will have several obligations, including:
- Appointing an officer responsible for preventing the distribution of illegal content.
- Establishing internal guidelines detailing the responsibilities and duties of the appointed officer.
- Creating and maintaining procedures for continuously receiving and handling reports of illegal content.
- Integrating necessary measures into their terms of service to combat the distribution of illegal content.
Timelines and Governmental Review
The KCC plans a meticulous roll-out of the amendment, with stages including public notification, regulatory review, committee resolutions, and assessments by the Ministry of Legislation. The target is to enact the revised decree by July, ensuring that all legal and procedural bases are covered.
Official Commentary
Vice Chairman Sang-In Lee of the KCC expressed optimism about the amendment, highlighting the government’s efforts to address the blind spots in content regulation. “Although the government has previously requested the deletion of illegal content, some gaps remained. With this amendment, we hope to effectively close those gaps,” Lee stated.
Streamlining Copyright Infringement Verification: A New Era for K-Content Protection
