KOMCA to Hold Information Session on Unclaimed YouTube Copyright Royalties

Korea Music Copyright Association. Provided by KMCA

The Korea Music Copyright Association announced on November 26 that it will hold an information session on November 28 at KOMCA HALL, the association’s main building in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to guide users through the process for claiming uncollected residual royalties generated on YouTube, ahead of the launch of a dedicated claim website.

Residual royalties refer to copyright fees generated on YouTube that have not been paid out because the rights holder could not be identified or because a claim was not made within two years. The association has managed these royalties, which it received from YouTube, for the period from the third quarter of 2016 to the second quarter of 2022 in Korea, and has been working to establish an online platform that allows all copyright holders-regardless of membership status-to submit claims.

The claim website, scheduled for release at the end of this year, will operate as a standalone system separate from the existing homepage. It is designed with a user-centric approach, enabling rights holders to directly check their eligibility and proceed with the claim process, and supports both PC and mobile environments. Anyone, regardless of membership, can submit a claim.

The association plans to run a “priority application period” until January 2026, during which it will provide focused support for rights holder verification, applications, and validation. The information session will cover practical details necessary for submitting claims, including: ▲ the concept and background of residual royalties ▲ the structure and usage of the claim system ▲ the claim procedure ▲ and the settlement schedule. Eligible participants include copyright holders such as lyricists, composers, and arrangers, as well as corporations and organizations that own or represent such rights.

A representative from the association stated, “We are carefully designing the interface and user manual to ensure creators can complete the claim process without inconvenience,” adding, “Detailed guidance will be provided at the information session.”

Applications to attend the session can be submitted through the association’s website until November 27.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.