Starship Entertainment, the agency behind Girl Group Ive, was subjected to scruples for a dispute on the brand with a small leather laboratory called “Ive Leather Goths”.
On September 30, the seminar publicly shared a notice of cancellation of the brand filed by Starship, unleashing indignation. The owner explained:
- The “Iive Leather Goths” brand was recorded in 2019 for four product categories.
- The group Ive He debuted only in 2021, which means that the seminary brand existed in advance.
- The name “Ive” derived from his English name, which he had used on social media from before Ivedebut.
ive antijapan controversy
" data-medium-file="https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/08/14091442/ive-antijapan-controversy-thumbnail-20250814t090419000z-390x260.webp" data-large-file="https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/08/14091442/ive-antijapan-controversy-thumbnail-20250814t090419000z.webp" alt="Antijapan controversy" class="wp-image-864601" srcset="https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/08/14091442/ive-antijapan-controversy-thumbnail-20250814t090419000z.webp 610w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/08/14091442/ive-antijapan-controversy-thumbnail-20250814t090419000z-390x260.webp 390w, https://cdn.kbizoom.com/media/2025/08/14091442/ive-antijapan-controversy-thumbnail-20250814t090419000z-400x267.webp 400w" sizes="(max-width: 610px) 100vw, 610px"/>The owner expressed frustration: “I recorded my business in 2015 and I recorded it in 2019. There are records of collaborations and exhibitions with public institutions. I can’t understand why a cancellation case was presented.”
He added that the brand was built on the legacy of his parents, underlining: “Even if the operations stop, I have to protect it. If this can happen to me, it could happen to anyone else with a similar name. For the public good, I will continue to share updates.”
The critics accused the spaceship of pressing a small business despite the different industries involved, framing the controversy as a “game of power” that was based IveGlobal reputation.
On October 2, Starship issued an official declaration that clarifies that the deposit was not authorized by the company: “THE Ive The case of the brand was pursued independently by a legal representative without consultation. Once we realized, we examined the process and immediately withdrawn it. “
The agency expressed regret: “We apologize deeply for the confusion. While protecting the rights of our artists it is important, we also respect the efforts of those who have faithfully made their activities for many years. We will strengthen our internal management system to prevent the anniversary and avoid unnecessary misunderstandings with artists and fans.”
Although the spaceship acted quickly to collect the case, the accident triggered wider discussions on:
- How entertainment companies manage intellectual property.
- The balance between the protection of K-Pop brands and respect for the rights of small businesses.
Whether the great agencies can involuntarily (or intentionally) overcome the boundaries in protecting the brands of their artists.
For now, the immediate legal conflict has ended, but the case has highlighted the delicate intersection of the global K-pop and local businesses, raising questions about how these disputes should be managed in the future.
“
Sources: Edaily, Tvreport
