The court ordered Dolphin Kidnappers to pay 1 billion KRW in Adore's damages lawsuit.
This incident highlights copyright issues and the relationship between fan culture in the K-pop industry.
[TV Daily Reporter Lee Gi-eun] The advertising company Dolphin Kidnappers, which posted NewJeans' music video on YouTube, has been ordered to pay 1 billion KRW to Adore and is now taking steps to prevent this ruling from being enforced. Legal sources indicate that they deposited 1.2 billion KRW with the Seoul Central District Court, likely to suspend the enforcement of the first-instance ruling. On the 13th, the court ruled in favor of Adore in a damages lawsuit, stating that Dolphin Kidnappers must pay 1 billion KRW and interest and that this amount can be enforced. This enforcement allows the victorious party to carry out the ruling even before it is finalized. The losing party can apply for a stay of enforcement, typically by providing a cash deposit. Last August, Dolphin Kidnappers posted the director's cut of NewJeans' 'ETA' music video on their YouTube channel. Following this, director Shin Woo-seok deleted other videos from a fan channel in response to Adore's deletion requests. However, Adore refuted these claims, insisting that they did not request the deletion of all related content. Adore subsequently filed a lawsuit against Dolphin Kidnappers, claiming illegal disclosure of their work.
This case highlights the ongoing copyright issues surrounding NewJeans and reveals the pressures prevalent in the K-pop industry. The advertising firm Dolphin Kidnappers, leveraging the fervent interest of fans, ventured into content production but consequently faced legal challenges. Ironically, despite the legal turmoil surrounding their music video, it continues to attract significant attention, reflecting NewJeans' widespread popularity. This situation transcends mere copyright infringement; the conflict arising from the deletion of content posted by a fan-operated channel illustrates the vital interdependence between fan culture and creators in K-pop's evolution. Fan channels often play a pivotal role in promoting artists and enhancing visibility. However, when copyright issues arise, it creates a rift between fandom and the artists. This serves as a pivotal moment for reconsidering the dynamics between artists and content production companies within the K-pop ecosystem.
This article is KOSTAR’s reinterpretation of a story originally reported by TVDaily.
Photo: TVDaily
