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Agency of K-pop group ILLIT files lawsuit vs NewJeans' fandom account

Entertainment | Music and Concerts

Agency of K-pop group ILLIT files lawsuit vs NewJeans' fandom account

By Jonathan Hicap

NewJeans (top) and ILLIT (bottom) (X)

NewJeans (top) and ILLIT (bottom) (X)

The agency of K-pop girl group ILLIT has filed a lawsuit against the operator of NewJeans’ fandom account “Team Bunnies.”

Agency Belift Lab lodged a 100 million (about $68,272) lawsuit for damages against the operator of Team Bunnies account, which primarily operates on X, and his parents at the Seoul Western District Court on Dec. 11.

Since it was revealed that the operator is a minor, his parents were included as defendants.

Belift Lab accused Team Bunnies of repeatedly posting false claims online, such as "ILLIT plagiarized NewJeans," damaging the reputation of its artists and the company, resulting in substantial business losses. The case has not yet been assigned to a court.

Team Bunnies alleged that ILLIT’s concept plagiarized NewJeans and filed a criminal complaint against Belift Lab CEO Kim Tae-ho in November last year.

Last October, NewJeans’ agency ADOR won the lawsuit on the validity of the exclusive contract of NewJeans and stated that, “While there are some similarities, it is difficult to conclude that ILLIT copied NewJeans."

The Team Bunnies account was accused of violating the Donation and Gift Act in Korea for failing to register with authorities while raising over 50 million won (about $34,136) under the pretext of responding to malicious posts targeting NewJeans.

NewJeans (X)

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