"Don't worry about the copyright infringement on my works", said cartoonist Kang Full

"Don't worry about copyright infringement on my works. As a copyright owner of my works I allow uploads of them without my consent". "I will permit partial copy of all of my works from now on", said popular web comic artist, Kang Full (real name: Kang Do-young), in response to the government's strengthened copyright protection policies. His announcement gained attention. He is famous for 'Soonjung Manhwa' and 'A Fool'.
"I agree that copyright should be protected", he said. "Freedom, however, in the internet should be protected to a certain extent at the same time", he added. He made it clear that many readers have asked a few cartoonists to drop lawsuits regarding copyright infringement by making phone calls to them and sending them emails since around 2 years ago. "Authors, copyright owners, discontinued the lawsuits in most cases, considering special conditions", and "Even if the concerning case does violate copyright laws peaceful settlement can be made if it is not malicious".

"I want to find a solution here at this point". He chose the image of palm and sole as a key to address the copyright issue. The image of palm indicates that portion of his cartoons can be copied at a reasonable level. As for sole, all of his works can be copied whatever it is, for example, pictures and scripts. "From now on, I will put a palm mark at the bottom of all of my works. My prior works don't have the palm marks but same rules will be applied to them as if they had those palm marks", he explained. In other words, works with palm marks can only be copied given that contracts have been made on those preceding works with regards to serialization. "Please disclose the source", he asked. "You are allowed to copy my works depending on the palm and sole marks. If a written accusation is sent to you because of administrative errors I will drop the case instantly", he added.
"If copyright laws are strengthened too much, freedom of expression and creation in the Internet will be harmed noticeably", he worried. "People live according to common sense without violating laws. I think common sense will also prevail in the internet given that it is part of the world where people also live", he explained as to why he made such a decision. In fact, the palm image is marked at the bottom of 'Again', his new work which is serialized on the portal site Daum.

The Source : Hankook Ilbo

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