On January 21, Director Shin Woo-seok stated via social media that the ruling contained “misrepresented facts.” The Seoul Central District Court ordered Dolphiners Films to pay 1 billion won in damages to ADOR while dismissing claims against Shin personally.
The dispute stems from Dolphiners Films uploading the “ETA” director’s cut to YouTube in August 2024 without written approval, later deleting the video at ADOR’s request.
Shin argued that the court acknowledged the existence of an oral agreement allowing the upload and ruled there was no copyright infringement, yet still found a contract violation due to the lack of written consent.
“Recognizing an agreement but calling it a violation solely because it wasn’t written is contradictory,”
Shin said, confirming he filed an appeal on January 20. He also denied rumors of an abnormal contract structure with Kakao Entertainment, stating that Dolphiners Films operates under fair agreements that protect creative independence.
He concluded by urging the public to refrain from spreading unfounded speculation or malicious accusations as the legal process continues. The appeal now shifts attention to the second-instance court, where the interpretation of oral agreements versus written consent is expected to become the central issue in the ongoing dispute involving NewJeans’ “ETA” music video.
Sources: Daum
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