NewJeans Members File Trademark for NJZ Ahead of Name Announcement

The members of NewJeans have taken steps to trademark their new activity name, 'NJZ', just one day before its official announcement. According to KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service), Minji, Hani, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein filed for the trademark on February 6, covering ten categories including advertising and merchandise sales. The application lists the members' real names and was handled by the law firm Sejong.

After declaring the termination of their exclusive contract with Ador in November last year, the group officially revealed their new name 'NJZ' through their social media channels on February 7. In response, Ador stated that the contract with NewJeans remains legally valid and that the termination claim is unilateral. They have filed for a court injunction to confirm the validity of the contract and are awaiting the court's decision, urging the group to continue using the official name 'NewJeans'.

Following the announcement, the members launched new social media accounts on platforms like YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok under the NJZ name. Ador emphasized that NewJeans has official accounts for fan communication and that any other accounts created without prior consultation violate the contract, potentially causing confusion among fans and advertisers.

The members will make their first appearance as NJZ at ComplexCon Hong Kong, taking place from March 21 to 23 at AsiaWorld-Expo.