On September 30, the Korean Management Federation expressed “deep regret over the ongoing issue, as the criticism and attacks are becoming excessive,” adding, “Design similarity and imitation are highly sensitive matters. We will do our best to support both parties in reaching an amicable resolution.”
The controversy first erupted when fans of THE BOYZ protested in front of QWER’s agency headquarters, demanding a design change for the group’s newly released light stick, which they claimed closely resembled THE BOYZ’s official version. On September 25, THE BOYZ’s agency One Hundred acknowledged the fans’ concerns, issuing an apology: “We deeply sympathize with the confusion and discomfort caused by the similarity between THE BOYZ and QWER’s light sticks. We sincerely apologize for not responding quickly enough.” The company added that it had requested design changes from QWER but failed to reach a final agreement, vowing to take all necessary legal measures and cooperate with related organizations to prevent a recurrence.
However, QWER’s agency, 3Y Corporation, firmly denied any wrongdoing. “The recently released official QWER light stick has no design or copyright issues. We have consulted with lawyers and patent attorneys multiple times, confirming there are no copyright infringements or related problems,” the agency said. They also criticized One Hundred’s decision to abruptly declare legal action while discussions were still ongoing, expressing “deep regret” over the escalation.
As both sides remain entrenched, fans and industry watchers worry the dispute could evolve into a full-scale legal battle, further fueling division between the two fandoms.
Sources: Daum
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