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 lined all manufacturing prices regardless of the present being broadcast beneath 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.”
Additionally they confirmed {that a} formal criticism had been filed with the Truthful Commerce Fee in opposition to 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 post-show live performance.
“This was a 100% privately funded venture,” he stated. “We invested over 5 billion gained ($3.7 million) in complete, 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 did not honor key commitments, similar to 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 brought on years of financial, operational, and emotional injury.”
Legal professional 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 imagined 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 an evidence of whether or not CJ ENM executives have been conscious of the scenario, an official apology, and compensation for 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 honest 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 means of exterior funding beneath a sponsorship contract. In accordance with 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 group and met MPMG’s requests in good religion. We remorse that the result didn’t meet expectations however strongly deny the claims. We’ll take all needed measures, together with authorized motion, primarily based on info 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.
