NewJeans’ Agency ADOR Issues Official Statement on Copyright Dispute with Dolphiners Films

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ADOR, the agency of K-pop group NewJeans, has issued an official statement regarding their copyright dispute with music video production company Dolphiners Films.
On the 9th, ADOR responded to Dolphiners Films' CEO Shin Woo-seok’s demand for an apology with a counterstatement on their official social media platforms.

ADOR began by addressing the contract, stating, "The contract between ADOR and Dolphiners Films for the production of the music video clearly states that all rights to the music video, as well as any derivative works, belong to ADOR."

The agency pointed out that "posting any videos containing NewJeans' intellectual property on Dolphiners Films' channel without ADOR's approval constitutes a clear breach of the contract."

ADOR explained that they had requested Dolphiners Films to either provide proof of approval for the use of copyrights and the artists' likeness or remove the 'director's cut.'

They emphasized that protecting the artists' creations is a basic responsibility of the label.

Additionally, ADOR acknowledged that they had received a request to remove or edit parts of the "ETA Music Video Director’s Cut" related to the advertiser’s brand and presented internal communication screenshots as evidence.

Regarding Dolphiners Films' 'Ban Hee-su' channel, ADOR clarified that they had not made any specific comments.

They explained, "The Ban Hee-su channel was created by a member of ADOR following our 'Online Channel Creation Guidelines,' and there is no issue with its operation." However, they added, "It’s simply a matter of adhering to the terms agreed upon in the contract regarding the artist’s creations."

Finally, ADOR criticized Dolphiners Films' response.
They remarked, "Deleting all content in response to a contractual violation does not appear to stem from the genuine suffering of a creator nor does it seem to be done for the sake of NewJeans and their fans." They also added, "We hope that there will be no more instances of using a YouTube channel as a hostage to increase anxiety among the artist and the fandom."

ADOR concluded by apologizing to the NewJeans members and their fans for any distress caused by the controversy and expressed their commitment to resolving the matter as quickly as possible.

This incident has once again highlighted the importance of copyright and contractual agreements in the entertainment industry.

Balancing the protection of artists' creations and the rights of production companies has emerged as a key challenge. Experts are also emphasizing the need for a more cautious and professional approach, considering the impact such disputes have on fans.

Both the industry and fans are closely watching how negotiations between ADOR and Dolphiners Films will unfold and what the final agreement will entail.
This case could potentially set new standards for copyright management and collaboration in the K-pop industry.