Decline in Illegal Reproduction, but Unauthorized Scanning in Universities Persists: Copyright Report

Illegal Reproduction Rate Decreases in South Korea, but Unauthorized Scanning in Universities Persists: Latest Copyright Report

The illegal reproduction rate in South Korea has been steadily declining over the past five years, according to the ‘2024 Copyright Protection Annual Report’ published by the Korea Copyright Protection Agency. However, concerns remain regarding the widespread unauthorized scanning of materials within universities.

Decrease in Illegal Reproduction Rate

According to the report, the illegal reproduction rate in South Korea has consistently decreased in recent years. In 2021, it stood at 19.8%, dropping to 19.5% in 2022 and further to 19.2% in 2023. Respondents cited the availability of “free or very cheap” alternatives as the primary reason for the high usage of illegal reproductions, accounting for 32.4% of responses.

Increase in Awareness of Copyright Protection

The report also highlights a positive shift in the overall perception of copyright protection in South Korea. The comprehensive perception score increased from 3.14 in 2021 to 3.18 in 2022 and further to 3.20 in 2023. This upward trend indicates a higher awareness of copyright protection, particularly among the younger demographic (10-20s), suggesting the positive impact of education and promotional campaigns.

Content Sectors with High Illegal Reproduction Rates

When examining specific content sectors, the film industry has the highest illegal reproduction rate at 24.5%, followed by games (23.9%), broadcasting (21.5%), webtoons (20.4%), music (18.4%), and publishing (14.4%).

Impact of Access Restrictions on Illegal Reproduction

The report emphasizes the effectiveness of access restrictions in curbing illegal reproduction. Approximately 48.5% of illegal reproduction users reported giving up on using free sites due to access blocks. However, 51.3% of users sought alternative routes or circumvention methods to access illegal reproductions.

Unauthorized Scanning of University Materials

Regarding the unauthorized scanning of university materials, 61.9% of respondents admitted to using illegally scanned e-textbooks. On average, respondents used approximately three illegally scanned textbooks. The primary channels for obtaining these materials were sharing with acquaintances via email or USB (44.6%), community platforms (12.5%), and social media platforms (5.4%). The majority (62.5%) of illegally scanned textbooks were shared among university students.

Methodology of the Report

The ‘2024 Copyright Protection Annual Report’ was based on an online survey conducted by Korea Research, targeting 24,000 general citizens aged 13 to 69. A separate survey specifically targeted university students and focused on the illegal scanning of university materials. The report, consisting of a comprehensive report and statistical data, can be downloaded from the Korea Copyright Protection Agency’s website. The agency hopes that the report will enhance awareness, respect for intellectual property rights, and promote legal content consumption.

Source: 뉴시스