BigHit Music Initiates Legal Action Over ARIRANG Leak

BigHit Music, the subsidiary of HYBE that manages BTS, has initiated legal proceedings in the United States against an anonymous user on X (formerly Twitter) who allegedly leaked songs, lyrics, and artwork from BTS's album ARIRANG prior to its release. The legal action, filed on April 9, aims to uncover the identity of the user operating under the handle @jwngkcck. BigHit claims that this user posted portions of the album in early March, undermining the anticipation surrounding the album's release.

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The court petition seeks a subpoena from a U.S. judge to compel X to disclose the user's identity. BigHit intends to pursue a civil lawsuit in South Korea against the user for copyright and trade secret infringement. The label asserts that the leak significantly harmed their marketing strategy, stating, “The leak of BTS’s album destroyed the element of surprise that applicant was building up towards its release, negatively impacting its reputation and sales.”

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The alleged leaks were reportedly removed from the @jwngkcck account after BigHit submitted copyright infringement reports to X. Following this, the user also changed their display name from “BTS ARIRANG LEAK.” BigHit's strategy to seek legal recourse in the U.S. is not uncommon; the company frequently turns to U.S. courts to identify anonymous users who may be spreading false information or infringing on copyrights related to its artists. This approach is particularly relevant as U.S.-based social media platforms are only subject to subpoenas issued by U.S. judges.

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ARIRANG was officially released on March 20 and has achieved significant commercial success, spending its first three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album's lead single, “Swim,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and continues to rank within the top 5 of the chart. The legal actions taken by BigHit highlight the ongoing challenges faced by artists and labels in protecting their intellectual property in the digital age.

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While BigHit's actions are aimed at protecting their intellectual property, some critics argue that such legal measures may infringe on free speech rights. The balance between protecting creative works and allowing open discussion and sharing of content remains a contentious issue in the music industry.

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• “The leak of BTS’s album destroyed the element of surprise that applicant was building up towards its release, negatively impacting its reputation and sales.” — BigHit Music Court Document

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This legal case underscores the complexities of copyright enforcement in the digital landscape, particularly for high-profile artists like BTS, whose releases are closely monitored and highly anticipated by fans worldwide.

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