The proliferation of AI-generated character stickers and copyright issues
- AI-generated stickers do not become your copyrighted work the moment they are created.
- In WordPress, there is a significant distance between aesthetics and products.
- The standard for safe use is determined by human judgment.
- When verifying something directly, the first place where problems usually arise is:
- Organizing layouts after verifying rights with DecoBlocks.
- The choice depends on the intended use.
- Frequently Asked Questions.
- WordPress-related plugins
There was an operator who wanted to add a small character at the end of a blog post. With just a few sentences entered, a smiling face, an animal waving its hand, and a person with a surprised expression appeared, and he immediately thought of uploading it to WordPress.
However, a question remains: If I use or sell character stickers created by AI on my website, are they truly my own?
AI-generated stickers do not become your copyrighted work the moment they are created.
AI-generated character stickers are fast and inexpensive. This is because you don’t have to find or commission illustrations that match the tone of the text.
However, simply pressing the “generate” button does not automatically make the entire image the user’s exclusive creation.
Simple generation is not enough.
The United States Copyright Office, in a report released in January 2025, stated that copyright protection for AI-generated content is only possible when a human has sufficiently determined the expressive elements. This means that simply inputting a prompt is not sufficient to demonstrate that a human has adequately controlled the expression.
The Korea Copyright Commission also provided a guide in December 2023, separately explaining points of attention for AI users, copyright holders, and AI businesses.
In WordPress, there is a significant distance between aesthetics and products.
The reason why WordPress operators are drawn to AI stickers is clear. They can quickly create small images to insert into posts, and they can easily change the overall atmosphere of the site.
The issue is that which rights need to be checked can vary depending on where the same picture is used. There is a difference in significance between using it once as a decoration in a post and using it as the main character of a website.
Decorations and merchandise are different.
Especially when used on paid stickers, merchandise, advertising images, or downloadable files for members, it is not merely a decorative element. In such cases, it is crucial to carefully review the terms of use of the generative tool and the similarity to the original character.
The Korean Copyright Committee introduced guides in June 2025 that address the registration of outputs generated by generative AI and measures to prevent disputes. This indicates that issues surrounding AI-generated images are moving closer to the actual implementation stage.
The standard for safe use is determined by human judgment.
In short, do not freely use content simply because it was created by AI. Instead, you should confirm that its use is permitted, verify the similarity to the original work, and confirm the human creative contribution before using it for your intended purpose.
Safety standards are determined by people.
The key issue is not who pressed the button. What is important is who determined the final image’s expression, and how closely it resembles the existing character.
The United States Copyright Office stated that if a person creatively selects or arranges AI-generated content and sufficiently modifies it, the parts added by that person may be protected. Conversely, expressions determined by the AI are not automatically attributed to the person.
When verifying something directly, the first place where problems usually arise is:
When directly addressing this problem, the most common obstacle is the image itself. Even when given different names, the resulting images sometimes resemble famous characters in terms of clothing, facial expressions, representative props, and facial features.
If it looks similar, you must stop.
The South Korean Supreme Court distinguishes between the abstract image of a character and a specifically depicted picture or cartoon. The determination of whether protection applies is based on the actual, concrete depiction, rather than the conceptual idea in one’s mind.
The graphic novel “Zarya of the Dawn,” which was reviewed by the United States Copyright Office, also features important scenes. In 2023, the United States Copyright Office examined images created using AI tools, distinguishing them from text written by humans, as well as editing and layout elements.
As a result, while the text and editing/layout portions created by humans could be distinguished, the AI-generated images themselves were not recognized as copyrightable works.
The more prominent the character, the more cautious you should be.
Another misconception is to equate commercial use permission with copyright protection. The terms and conditions of generative services may vary regarding the commercial use, exclusivity, and resale conditions of the generated output.
Terms and conditions are different from copyright.
Therefore, it is necessary to verify and record the terms and conditions that were in effect at the time of creation. Simply changing a famous character slightly does not guarantee protection from copyright, trademark, and unfair competition issues.
Simply storing the prompts is not sufficient. Without the modification files and terms and conditions screen, it may be difficult to explain later under what conditions the content was created and used. While it is possible to verify directly, there are limitations to judging image similarity, the detailed conditions of the terms and conditions, and the creative contributions of individuals all at once.
Organizing layouts after verifying rights with DecoBlocks.
Even after confirming the copyright and usage conditions, the issue of how to distinguish between stickers and descriptions within a WordPress post remains. DecoBlocks is a WordPress plugin that displays character stickers from the sticker pack installed in the post, and related descriptions are grouped and displayed using a Section Box (Solid). It can be used as an “Insert Sticker” block in the block editor, or as a shortcode in the classic editor.
If you need to review sentences and character decorations and distinguish them at a glance, you can use Highlight (Yellow) to mark portions of sentences or use Speech Bubble (Left) to separate explanations. However, these features are not intended for determining copyright or commercial use permissions for stickers. Instead, they should be used for organizing expressions after the terms and conditions have been reviewed and the similarity to the original work has been confirmed.
The choice depends on the intended use.
If the decoration is intended to enhance the atmosphere of a personal blog post, it is safer to select original characters rather than imitations of famous characters. Defining the name, appearance, and background of the characters from the beginning can help reduce unnecessary conflicts.
The smaller the intended use, the more carefully the associated risks must be considered.
On the other hand, if you plan to use the AI-generated results as the main character for a website, for paid products, or in advertising campaigns, it is better not to adopt the AI output directly as the final version. There should be clear evidence of human involvement, including sketching, adjustments to facial expressions and colors, and layout modifications.
When brand reputation and sales are at stake, stricter measures are necessary.
- We confirm the commercial use license for the generation tool.
- We verify whether the product can be resold.
- Record the prompt and the generation date.
- The modified files and terms and conditions screen are stored.
- If there is any suspicion that it is similar to the original work, do not use it.
Ultimately, the answer depends on the intended use. If it is simply for decorative purposes, proprietary AI-generated stickers can be used conditionally. However, if the brand and sales are involved, it is safer to choose only results that have undergone human design work and rights review.
Once the scope of use is defined, it is necessary to separate the locations of character and rights-related descriptions. DecoBlocks’ “Insert Character Sticker” allows users to insert character stickers from the installed sticker pack into a post, while the “Section Box (Solid)” groups related content within a box for display.
Certain parts of an important sentence can be marked with Highlight (Yellow) to express decoration and cautions in a different way. This feature does not replace usage permissions or copyright attributions; instead, it serves to arrange verified stickers in a manner that aligns with the flow of a WordPress post.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Q. Does using an AI sticker once in a WordPress post cause a problem?
A. It is generally best to avoid images that resemble famous characters, even if they are only used once.
Please verify that the character is original and also review the terms of use for the generation tool. If you plan to use the character as the site’s representative character or in advertising, it is safer to keep a record of the modification process.
Q. Can AI stickers be sold as a product?
A. First, you must verify whether the generation tool allows for commercial use and resale. You should also review the human modification process and the differences between the generated content and the original work, and it is advisable to keep records of the terms and conditions and the generation process.
Q. Can this problem be easily solved using a tool? What kind of tool should be used?
A. A single tool cannot automatically determine usage permissions or copyright ownership. The practical approach is to record the generation process, review the terms and conditions, and, if necessary, have a human review the design.
Q. After confirming the rights for a character sticker, how should it be placed in the main body of the text?
A. With DecoBlocks, you can insert character stickers from a sticker pack installed using the “Insert Character Sticker” feature into your posts.
In the block editor, use the “Insert Sticker” block, and in the classic editor, use the shortcode. The description can be divided into “Section Box (Solid)” or “Speech Bubble (Left)”. However, this feature does not verify the usage permission or copyright issues of the sticker, so it must be checked separately before placement.
