MPMG, a music and leisure firm, has accused CJ ENM and Mnet of unfair enterprise practices in the course of the manufacturing of the 2022 band competitors program “Nice Seoul Invasion,” claiming it coated all manufacturing prices regardless of the present being broadcast below Mnet’s identify.
At a press convention held at MPMG’s headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday, producer Lee Jong-hyun and legal professional Kim Jong-hee stated the corporate determined to reveal the case 3 years after this system ended “to forestall additional injury.”
In addition they confirmed {that a} formal criticism had been filed with the Truthful Commerce Fee towards CJ ENM and Mnet.
Lee stated that MPMG initially deliberate to co-produce this system with CJ ENM however ended up shouldering the complete monetary burden — together with manufacturing, advertising, and a postshow live performance.
“This was a 100% privately funded challenge,” he stated. “We invested over 5 billion received ($3.7 million) in whole, however the contract was framed as a sponsorship deal, permitting Mnet to retain the mental property rights with out contributing any manufacturing funds.”
Lee alleged that Mnet didn’t honor key commitments, resembling supporting collaborating artists, and that communication from the community was “nearly nonexistent.”
He added, “No different precedent exists by which an organization contributed nothing however took the IP. This unreasonable abuse of energy has prompted years of financial, operational and emotional injury.”
Lawyer Kim echoed the declare, calling the case “a transparent instance of structural unfairness the place a dominant broadcaster exploited a smaller companion.” He stated, “The settlement that was purported to be a co-production was unilaterally modified to a sponsorship contract. MPMG’s enter was disregarded in the course of the contract course of.”
MPMG stated it’s demanding a proof relating to whether or not CJ ENM executives had been conscious of the state of affairs, an official apology and compensation for its monetary losses.
“We’ve organized all associated proof,” Lee stated. “If the management knew about this, we would like an acknowledgment and a honest apology. In the event that they didn’t, the corporate ought to nonetheless take accountability and supply truthful compensation.”
CJ ENM refuted the allegations, calling them “one-sided and inaccurate.” In a press release to the Hankook Ilbo, the corporate stated, “The 2022 ‘Nice Seoul Invasion’ was proposed by MPMG and produced by way of exterior funding below a sponsorship contract. Based on mutual settlement, MPMG retained live performance, administration and grasp recording rights, whereas CJ ENM held broadcasting and distribution rights.”
The assertion continued, “We put collectively an skilled manufacturing workforce and met MPMG’s requests in good religion. We remorse that the end result didn’t meet expectations, however strongly deny the claims. We are going to take all mandatory measures, together with authorized motion, primarily based on information and contractual proof.”
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Instances.
