THE BOYZ and IST Entertainment Clash Over Trademark Rights

The ongoing dispute over the trademark rights of THE BOYZ has intensified as both the group's former agency, IST Entertainment, and their new agency, One Hundred, present conflicting claims.

Debuting in 2017, THE BOYZ, an 11-member boy group, is set to leave IST Entertainment and join One Hundred, a company founded by singer MC Mong and Cha Ga-won, the chairman of PIAK. Reports have emerged that IST Entertainment is demanding a substantial sum, reportedly in the tens of billions of won, for the rights to the group's name, drawing significant attention to the situation.

While the members of THE BOYZ have expressed a desire to retain their group name, the two agencies have been unable to reconcile their differences regarding the trademark rights, leading to public disputes.

On December 4, One Hundred released a statement, expressing regret over the negotiations with IST Entertainment. They stated, "During the negotiations for the trademark rights, IST Entertainment's unreasonable conditions made it impossible for us to accept the terms regarding the rights that the artists have maintained for seven years."

They further emphasized, "One Hundred has made every effort to negotiate with IST Entertainment regarding the trademark rights. The members of THE BOYZ have also worked hard to maintain the trademark for their fans, but we are deeply disappointed that we could not reach a favorable outcome with IST Entertainment. We prioritize the well-being of THE BOYZ and their fans and hope for a smooth transition to the new agency without any issues."

One Hundred also mentioned their commitment to continue negotiations with an open mind until the contract expiration date on December 5, stating, "Even if negotiations fail, we will thoroughly prepare for the members of THE BOYZ to continue their activities under a better brand name."

In contrast, IST Entertainment presented a different perspective. They expressed regret over the misinformation circulating about the trademark rights, clarifying, "Contrary to reports, we have offered all 11 members of THE BOYZ the right to use the trademark without charge and have communicated this to them. We also intended to allow the members to use the trademark freely for any activities they agree upon, including unit and solo activities."

IST Entertainment added, "Furthermore, we have decided to support one member, whose exclusive contract still has about six months remaining, by allowing an early termination of the contract to facilitate their activities at the new agency. Our intention was to provide the trademark rights to the members themselves, rather than the new agency, to foster deeper connections between the members and their fans."

They also refuted claims that they demanded excessive fees for the trademark, stating, "We have been open to various proposals regarding the trademark and have only engaged in basic discussions to ensure a smooth handover."

As both agencies continue to assert their positions regarding THE BOYZ's trademark rights, all eyes are on the negotiations leading up to the contract's expiration on December 5, hoping for a resolution that satisfies both parties.