NewJeans Music Video Production Company Dolphiners Films and ADOR Face Deepening Copyright Dispute...Director Shin Woo-seok Claims "All Content Was Agreed Upon"

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The conflict surrounding NewJeans’ music videos, such as "Ditto" and "ETA," is intensifying as Shin Woo-seok, the director of Dolphiners Films, which produced the videos, responded to ADOR’s claims of a "breach of contract" instead of issuing an apology.

On the 10th, Director Shin publicly rebutted ADOR’s statement, further escalating the dispute over NewJeans' content.

Shin Woo-seok took to his social media on the 10th, writing, "It makes me furious every time I see their official statement.

Why do you keep changing your words and lying when all you need to do is admit your fault and apologize?" He added, "Let me clarify, all the content and channels we uploaded were agreed upon. A change in management doesn’t nullify that."

Shin further claimed that the director’s cut of the video, which ADOR flagged as an issue, had been mutually agreed upon by all three parties involved, and there were only minor requests for tagline modifications.

He asserted that there are still no issues with the video being uploaded.

Additionally, he warned, "Since there was no apology, we will submit or release the recordings, emails, and other materials we have and file a defamation lawsuit against CEO Kim Joo-young and Vice CEO Lee Do-kyung."

The conflict between Shin and ADOR surfaced on September 2, when Shin posted on social media, stating, "It seems like ADOR's policies have changed since the management was restructured.

Due to their request for removal, all NewJeans-related music videos and channels we worked on, as well as future content, can no longer be publicly shared."

In response, ADOR issued a statement explaining, "The 'ETA' music video director’s cut that Dolphiners Films uploaded on its SNS channels included a version that previously caused issues with an advertiser and was uploaded without their approval.

We only requested the removal of that director's cut video.

We did not request the removal or halt of all NewJeans-related content, including videos on the Ban Hee-soo channel," rebutting Shin’s claim of false information.

On the 9th, Shin posted on his SNS again, stating, "We have recordings and emails, so stop lying.

If I’m spreading false information, why are you reaching out behind the scenes, trying to negotiate with me?" He added, "After consulting legal experts, we confirmed that, according to the original agreement, Dolphiners Films owns the Ban Hee-soo channel.

We created the channel without any compensation, solely for the fans, and I don’t want to see fans worried that it might be deleted during this dispute."

Shin then announced his intention to transfer ownership of the Ban Hee-soo channel to ADOR, but on the strict condition that nothing on the channel would be deleted, modified, or added.

He demanded ADOR issue a public apology via their official channels by the end of the day.

However, later that day, ADOR released a lengthy statement instead of an apology, reiterating, "According to the music video production contract between ADOR and Dolphiners Films, ADOR holds the rights to the music videos and any derivative works.

Uploading any videos that include NewJeans IP on Dolphiners Films’ channel without ADOR’s approval is a clear breach of contract."

ADOR also stated that they had requested Dolphiners Films provide proof of copyright and artist image use approvals (via email or chat) as part of a verification process for the ‘ETA Director’s Cut’ video.

ADOR maintained that they never asked for the removal of videos on the Ban Hee-soo channel.

In response to ADOR’s statement, Director Shin posted a new message, pointing out, "You demanded immediate deletion but never asked for proof.

Now you’re saying the issue was only with the director’s cut? If that’s the case, what about the other videos featuring NewJeans? Are those not NewJeans either?" Shin further stated, "Legally, Dolphiners Films currently owns the Ban Hee-soo channel, and we are looking into ways to transfer it to the fans."

Shin also criticized ADOR's contradictory stance, stating, "ADOR claimed in their latest statement that Dolphiners Films can continue operating the Ban Hee-soo channel, but that’s a blatant lie.

Just a few days ago, ADOR was desperately trying to persuade us to hand over the Ban Hee-soo channel."

He concluded, "I don’t want the fans to suffer any longer, and since ADOR refuses to take responsibility, I will open the Ban Hee-soo channel myself."