The Countermeasures Council for Illegal Webtoon Distribution said on the 18th that it welcomes the appellate ruling sentencing the operators of illegal webtoon sites, including Noonoo TV and OK Toon, to four years and six months in prison, calling it a judgment that reflects the seriousness of copyright infringement crimes.
The sentence in this ruling is one year and six months heavier than in the first trial, and it appears that the petitions submitted by the industry were considered in the court's decision-making process. The Daejeon District Court appellate panel specified that the petitions calling for severe punishment submitted by rightsholders were among the grounds for increasing the sentence.
Illegal webtoon sites have been consistently cited as a problem for infringing creators' rights and causing direct harm to the webtoon industry ecosystem. In particular, amid the global expansion of K-webtoons, illegal distribution has been cited as a factor hindering the industry's growth.
The industry has continued to express concern that the punishment for operators of illegal sites is low compared with the scale of damage, and this appellate ruling is being evaluated as a case that clarified the standards for copyright infringement crimes.
A Web Council official said, "We hope this ruling serves as a warning against acts of obtaining illegal revenue through copyright infringement," and added, "With the principle of stern punishment clearly affirmed, we will continue to work with the industry to foster a healthy content ecosystem."