Rules released for user-created content

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Rules released for user-created content

The Information Ministry released a draft guideline yesterday regarding user-created content, with detailed clauses on issues like how to protect intellectual privacy, personal privacy and avoiding defamation.
The ministry said the draft was written by a special 15-person research team composed of industry specialists, legal experts and academics that has conducted meetings and workshops since January.
The ministry formed the guidelines because of the increasing number of people using and viewing user-made content. Slightly more than half of all Internet users have created content, and about 56 percent of all people who have viewed user-created content have viewed “inappropriate” content, the ministry said.
The ministry presented 10 “commandments” as well as a legal guide and checklist, which it said was aimed at boosting users’ sense of responsibility and heightening consciousness regarding laws and ethics.
These rules begin with No. 1: Keep the same citizen ethics on the Internet and adhering to the basics of a democratic society; and end with No. 10: Be creative when making user-created content.
Others call for users to recognize the importance of visual and media effects and to create content that only has positive effects.
The legal guide contains information on copyright and privacy protection. To aid users’ understanding, the guide comes with a number of examples for each clause. For instance, providing links to adult content can be subject to punishment even if the content itself is not generated by the user. Also, if someone defames another individual by quoting a news article or other report, that could still be subject to a defamation claim.
People will be able to comment on the draft guidelines through both online and offline hearings. The final version will be announced on June 29, at the first Korea UCC Festival.
“We hope the guidelines will help a sound user-created content culture to take root,” said Yang Jun-cheol, a ministry official.


By Wohn Dong-hee Staff Writer [wohn@joongang.co.kr]
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