Korea’s JTBC Warns of Copright Strike over The End of the World 세계의끝

Recently, JTBC filed a copyright claim over my video PLOT REVIEW: THE END OF THE WORLD, 세계의끝 KOREA (2013), primarily a production covering the plot of a Korean television series about an ancient virus unleashed by the melting Arctic environment. The series is considered to have failed after JTBC management interfered with the productions, however the first six episodes are of remarkable good quality. You can read more about it in my review here.

This issue highlights the struggle to create educational content even if you aim for getting the copyright right. It highlights missing fair use standards for the YouTube platform .

The video uses a few short excerpts from the series to highlight the plot in regards to climate change, and mentions current scientific discoveries unearthed by the thawing Arctic. This is usually considered to meet fair use guidelines. However, after we made this point JTBC threatens us now with a copyright strike and to takedown the video review.

A reddit user noted, I know that JTBC is quite strict, they only allow us to include like 3-5 seconds of their content?

The video is of medium production quality besides the very present topic, got under 800 views and good ratings. Letting alone the question if the material length and segment used is considered to be fair use by a copyright case court, the main takeaway is that this series is not well known outside of Korea or that region, is no longer continued, thus any exposure helps to bring attention to it, and with it the possibility of people watching it on a subscription basis.

It also appears as a pedantic motion by JTBC’s YouTube copyright management to so forcefully go after small content creators, after all they are a major Korean subscription network and broadcasting company. This issue highlights the struggle to create educational content even if you aim for getting the copyright right. It highlights missing fair use standards for the YouTube platform.

From my review: Starting with episode seven the drama changes substantially, likely due to a tighter schedule after the original planned 20 episodes were cut to 12. If you read the comments at this missing Korean review you even can deduce that the film was influenced from the outside, apparently in a very negative way.

JTBC (and similar decision makers) should acknowledge that not every content use outside of their sphere is an infringement of their rights. Their actions prevent a potential mass market audience from ever getting to know their content, they signal content creators that covering JTBC content is better avoided.

Meanwhile, director Ahn Pan Seok switched the network and was successful with the award winning television series Heard It Through the Grapevine.

Heard It Through the Grapevine is a black comedy that satirizes the presumptuous and materialistic ideas by the top upper class in Korea, who are indulged in imperialistic power and thrive on inherited wealth and lineage.