Credit: One Hundred Label, 3Y Corporation
A fresh K-pop lightstick dispute is brewing. Band QWER’s newly revealed official lightstick has drawn comparisons to the design of The Boyz ’s, raising the possibility of legal action between the two camps.
QWER unveiled the lightstick during their first world tour Rockation in Seoul, showcasing a white megaphone-shaped design with the group’s logo at the center of the speaker. But fans quickly pointed out its resemblance to The Boyz’s lightstick.
Thursday, The Boyz’s agency One Hundred Label issued a statement acknowledging fans’ concerns. “We deeply empathize with the confusion and discomfort caused by the design similarities and sincerely apologize,” the company said. It added that while discussions had been ongoing with QWER’s side, requests for design modifications had not led to a resolution. “We apologize for not responding to the controversy more quickly. Moving forward, we will take strong action, including legal procedures and cooperation with relevant institutions, to ensure this does not happen again.”
Credit: Online Commmunties
QWER’s agencies 3Y Corporation and Prismfilter countered the same day, insisting the design was above board. “The QWER official lightstick recently released poses no issues either in design or under copyright law,” their joint statement read. “We consulted lawyers and intellectual property experts multiple times, and confirmed there is no problem, including copyright infringement.”
Expressing disappointment at One Hundred’s stance, QWER’s agencies commented: “We regret that, while we had been in amicable discussions, they suddenly announced plans for legal action,” adding, “We’re taking this as an opportunity to listen more closely to different perspectives and will do our best to present an even better image to both our artists and fans moving forward.”
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