C-IP2 and Mason Korea Host Conference on K-Pop and the Law

Conference Attendees

The Center for Intellectual Property x Innovation Policy(C-IP2), Music Ecosystems Institute, and Mason Korea recently collaborated to host a day-long conference at George Mason University, Korea. The conference, titled “The Role of Law and Policy in the Rise of K-Pop and Other Asian Music Genres,” examined how legal and regulatory environments played a role in K-Pop’s recent and rapid rise. Scalia Law professor Seán O’Connor played a pivotal role in the conference. In opening remarks, O’Connor said, “Investigating topics of music law, IP, AI, and social media in the context of the global phenomenon of K-Pop is critical to the legal, policy, and of course, music communities.”

O’Connor moderated the first of five sessions, “The Role of Government Policy in the Rise of K-Pop, Mando-Pop, and Other New Asian Music Genres.” The session’s panel featured Eric Priest, a law professor at the University of Oregon; Sang Jo Jong, a law professor at Seoul National University; George Hwang, an expert in media law; and Jesse Lu, a professor at the National Chengchi University of Political Science, Taiwan. The session looked at what led to the popularity of K-Pop and other Asian music genres in Western markets.

Later, O’Connor participated in the third session as a panelist. That session, titled “Generative AI and Music Rights,” considered the copyright implications of AI generated music. In addition to O’Connor, the session also featured, copyright specialist Robert Clarida; KweeTiang Ang, Senior Vice President at Universal Music; and Young-hu Kim, CEO of Qoop.

Seán O’Connor is a professor at Scalia Law, Executive Director of the Music Ecosystems Institute, and Faculty Advisor & Senior Scholar at C-IP2. C-IP2 produces research, education, and service to better understand and shape the means of innovation at the intersection of IP and innovation policy. Scalia Law professor Adam Mossoff co-founded the center in 2012.