Cupid Copyright Case Ends with Court Ruling for The Givers

The Cupid copyright dispute between ATTRAKT and The Givers ended with a court ruling affirming The Givers’ ownership. The court emphasized that The Givers held the economic rights through a valid contract and had full responsibility for production. Despite ATTRAKT’s objections and emotional public support, the legal decision favored written agreements over assumptions.

Legal Ruling Affirms The Givers’ Victory in Cupid Copyright Dispute

The Givers, a content production company, announced that it has won a complete legal victory in the copyright dispute with ATTRAKT over the song Cupid. The Seoul Central District Court’s Civil Division 62, presided over by Judge Lee Hyun-seok, dismissed ATTRAKT’s claim that the copyright of Cupid should belong to them. ATTRAKT had filed a lawsuit demanding the transfer of copyright, but the court concluded that their argument lacked legal grounds and confirmed that The Givers retained full copyright ownership of the track.

Billboard Success of Cupid Triggers Copyright Dispute

Released in 2023 by rookie girl group FIFTY FIFTY, Cupid became a global hit and even charted on Billboard, but its success soon gave rise to a serious conflict. A dispute broke out between ATTRAKT and The Givers over who held the rights to the song, and this disagreement over copyright ownership quickly escalated into a lawsuit. What began as a commercial disagreement evolved into a legal battle that ultimately centered on the question of who controlled the song’s economic value.

Economic Copyright Rights at the Core of the Cupid Dispute

The main issue in the trial was not who created the song but who held the economic copyright to Cupid, which governs the right to use the work for profit or to grant permission for others to do so. Unlike moral rights or authorship, economic copyright determines who can commercially exploit a song, and this became the basis of the legal dispute. The court focused on this distinction in its ruling, evaluating who had the authority to use and license the song for business purposes.

Court Finds No Basis for ATTRAKT’s Claim in Cupid Copyright Dispute

ATTRAKT argued that the copyright for Cupid should revert to them, but the court found that the existing contracts did not support this assertion. The judge determined that The Givers had acquired the copyright directly through a legally binding contract, had taken full responsibility for the risks of production, and had independently handled negotiations. Based on these findings, the court ruled that the right to use Cupid belonged to The Givers and stated that contract interpretation must rely strictly on the written terms, not on assumed intentions.

ATTRAKT’s Contractual Argument Rejected by Court

Although ATTRAKT insisted that their service contract with The Givers implied a transfer of copyright, the court rejected this, pointing out that no such clause existed in the agreement. The judge emphasized that The Givers had made creative decisions independently while bearing the costs and risks, and that this level of autonomy clearly established them as the rightful copyright holder. Furthermore, the court clarified that merely distributing a physical album using the master track did not constitute ownership of the underlying copyright.

The Givers Also Cleared in JTBC Soundtrack Dispute

In addition to the Cupid case, ATTRAKT had also filed a criminal complaint against The Givers regarding Ganggangsullae (Alok Remix), a song produced in 2022 for JTBC’s Poongryudaejang. ATTRAKT accused The Givers of forging documents and infringing copyright, but the prosecution found no grounds to proceed and dismissed the charges. Investigators confirmed that The Givers had taken the lead in production and planning, and that documents submitted to copyright associations and streaming platforms proved proper involvement of all contributors. No evidence of intentional harm was found during the investigation.

Online Reaction to Cupid Copyright Dispute and Ongoing Trials

Following the court’s decision, many users on online forums such as MLBPARK expressed disappointment, especially because ATTRAKT’s CEO Jeon Hongjun is widely seen as a victim of betrayal. A previously leaked phone call that portrayed him in a sympathetic light had drawn strong support from domestic fans. Although the court acknowledged the validity of The Givers’ contract, many still felt that Jeon deserved the rights due to his investment in the Cupid project. Some users noted that while Ablume, the current group, may now perform Cupid freely, FIFTY FIFTY will still need to pay royalties to Ahn Sung-il. Despite the verdict, important civil trials concerning ATTRAKT remain ongoing, and further legal developments are expected.

ATTRAKT Files Major Lawsuit Against Warner Music Korea

ATTRAKT filed a lawsuit against Warner Music Korea, seeking 20 billion won in damages for tampering involving former FIFTY FIFTY members. The agency claims that Warner Music Korea played a critical role in disrupting the group’s activities through illegal meetings.

Here’s a link to MLBPARK.

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