ADOR has scored a significant legal victory in its long-running dispute with Dolphiners Films, the creative studio behind several visually iconic NewJeans music videos. The ruling, delivered by the Seoul Central District Court on January 13, firmly sides with the HYBE sub-label and reinforces its ownership over the group’s content.
The verdict comes at a sensitive moment for ADOR, arriving just days after the label officially removed Danielle Marsh from NewJeans — a move that has already sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry.
Court orders Dolphiners Films to pay heavy damages
In its ruling, the court ordered Dolphiners Films to pay approximately 1 billion KRW (around $679,000) in damages to ADOR. The amount will also carry 12% annual interest, calculated from December 14, 2024, until the full payment is made.
The lawsuit stemmed from the unauthorised release of a “director’s cut” version of NewJeans’ hit track “ETA”, which Dolphiners Films uploaded to its own YouTube channel without ADOR’s consent.
While the court ruled against the studio, it dismissed ADOR’s claims against individual director Shin Woo-seok, meaning ADOR will bear its own legal costs related to him. Dolphiners Films, however, will shoulder the bulk of corporate-level expenses.
Why the dispute began
The conflict dates back to August 2024, when Dolphiners Films uploaded a director’s cut of ETA independently. ADOR immediately objected, stating that the video was shared without prior approval from the label or advertisers.
The move sparked a public back-and-forth. Shin Woo-seok later removed all NewJeans-related content from his unofficial channels and filed a criminal defamation complaint against ADOR. At the time, he claimed that internal policy changes following management shifts at ADOR forced the takedowns.
ADOR, however, maintained that the director’s cut included edits that had already caused friction with advertisers — making its unauthorised release even more problematic.
ADOR’s stance: “All rights belong to us”
In its official response, ADOR reiterated that, under its contract with Dolphiners Films, all copyrights related to NewJeans’ music videos belong exclusively to the label.
The company stated that ETA and all its edited versions — including director’s cuts — must only be released through ADOR’s official channels, adding that these measures were necessary to protect both the company and the artists.
This position ultimately held up in court, giving ADOR strong legal validation of its control over NewJeans’ creative output.
What this means for K-pop content control
The ruling is being seen as a landmark moment for intellectual property rights in K-pop, particularly when it comes to collaborations between labels and external creative studios. It sends a clear message: visual identity may be collaborative, but ownership remains firmly with the label unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Industry insiders say the verdict could lead to stricter contracts and tighter content oversight across the K-pop ecosystem.
The Danielle Marsh factor
Adding another layer to the controversy, the ruling comes shortly after ADOR confirmed the termination of its exclusive contract with Danielle Marsh on December 29, 2025. Her removal reduced NewJeans to four members — Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein — and reportedly involves a legal penalty and ongoing litigation.
While the two issues are legally separate, their timing has amplified scrutiny around ADOR’s internal decisions and external disputes.
Final words
ADOR’s courtroom win against Dolphiners Films is more than just a financial victory — it’s a statement of authority. By securing legal recognition of its ownership over NewJeans’ content, the label has drawn firm boundaries around creative control in one of K-pop’s most closely watched cases.
With internal reshuffles, high-profile exits, and now a decisive court ruling, ADOR’s handling of NewJeans is set to remain under intense public and industry focus in the months ahead.
