BTS’ management company, BigHit Music, a subsidiary of HYBE, is pursuing legal action following a leak of their upcoming album “ARIRANG.” The label has initiated U.S. legal proceedings to identify an anonymous user on X, formerly known as Twitter. This user allegedly leaked songs, lyrics, and artwork ahead of the album’s release.
Legal Proceedings Against Anonymous Account
BigHit Music filed a court petition in the U.S. on April 9 to uncover the identity of the account @jwngkcck. According to the label, this user posted parts of “ARIRANG” in early March, just weeks before BTS’ first album in six years was set to release.
Subpoena for User Identification
The court document includes a request for a subpoena to compel X to reveal the user’s identity. BigHit intends to use this information to file a civil suit in South Korea. The suit will seek financial compensation for alleged copyright and trade secret violations.
Impact of the Leak
BigHit expressed concern that the leak significantly undermined the careful planning behind the album launch. The label asserted, “The leak of BTS’s album destroyed the element of surprise, negatively impacting its reputation and sales.” According to the company, the posts related to the leak were subsequently removed by the user, who also changed their display name away from “BTS ARIRANG LEAK.”
Historical Context of Legal Action
HYBE frequently turns to U.S. courts to address issues involving anonymous internet users, particularly when aiming to pursue actions in Korea. This strategy is employed since social media platforms based in the U.S. can only respond to subpoenas issued by American judges.
- BigHit Music has a history of pursuing legal actions against anonymous users.
- Past cases included seeking to identify users who spread false rumors about other K-pop groups.
Performance of ARIRANG
“ARIRANG” officially released on March 20 and quickly ascended to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, maintaining its No. 1 position for three consecutive weeks. The lead single, titled “Swim,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains among the top 5. The success emphasizes BTS’ ongoing influence in the music industry.
