The band QWER is embroiled in a legal dispute over the similarity of their light stick design, and member Siyeon has spoken out against malicious comments.
On the 30th, Siyeon took to her personal social media and fan communication platform to address the negative comments directed at her. She stated, "To those who come to my Instagram to say unspeakable things? Keep going. Thanks for filling my dopamine. It makes me want to rise even higher. Thank you. Goodnight, my motivators."
She continued, "I'm sorry for speaking my mind. I'll probably get scolded again. Sorry, but I have to say what needs to be said. Even in the anonymity of cyberspace, I believe that baseless personal attacks are not acceptable for humans to make against each other." She added, "There might be reasons or twisted circumstances, but whatever you throw at others will come back to you," targeting the online harassers.
QWER recently unveiled their official light stick for their first world tour 'ROCKATION' in Seoul. However, the product has been criticized for its resemblance to the megaphone-shaped light stick used by THE BOYZ since 2021.
THE BOYZ's agency, One Hundred Label, stated, "After recognizing the issue, we have been in discussions with QWER's side, requesting design changes, but no final conclusion was reached." They added, "We will take legal steps to prevent recurrence and respond strongly to the light stick controversy."
In response, QWER's agencies, 3Y Corporation and Prismfilter Music Group, expressed regret over One Hundred Label's sudden decision to pursue legal action, stating, "The light stick was reviewed by experts, including lawyers and patent attorneys, and it was confirmed that there are no issues, including copyright infringement."
As the controversy grew, the Korea Entertainment Producers' Association announced, "We will do our best to mediate and arbitrate between the parties from a neutral standpoint and prepare measures to prevent recurrence." They added, "We will promote the establishment of an official dispute resolution platform, industry joint statements, and campaigns."
The association also noted, "The controversy over the similarity of light stick designs goes beyond simple imitation and disputes, impacting the future and global competitiveness of K-POP merchandise culture. It is important to consider not only legal judgments but also the social value of industry practices and fandom identity."
The Korea Management Federation also expressed deep regret over the issue, stating, "The criticism is becoming excessive. The similarity and imitation of designs are sensitive issues. Intellectual property rights are intangible assets, and the boundaries can be ambiguous. It is crucial to protect creativity while enhancing usability through industry consensus and mediation. We will do our best to assist in fair mediation procedures."
Despite the ongoing controversy, QWER has proceeded with the sale of the light sticks, announcing the receipt of merchandise orders.