Court Grants Injunction, Halts All Episodes of "Bulkkot Baseball"
Studio C1 to Appeal... Will the Dispute Become Prolonged?
The court has accepted JTBC's request for an injunction to prohibit copyright infringement and unfair competition against Studio C1, resulting in a complete halt to the production and distribution of the variety show "Bulkkot Baseball."
On December 19, the 60th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court stated, "Studio C1 used the main cast and structural elements of 'Choi Kyang Baseball' without substantial modification, and produced and transmitted 'Bulkkot Baseball,' which, based on existing game content, records, and narrative, effectively implies it is a subsequent season. This constitutes an act of unfair competition as defined in Article 2, Paragraph 1 of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act."
Accordingly, all episodes of "Bulkkot Baseball" released so far, as well as any content using the name "Bulkkot Baseball" or featuring the "Bulkkot Fighters" team in the same season, are now prohibited from being produced, transmitted, sold, distributed, or circulated.
"Choi Kyang Baseball" is a JTBC variety program produced by Studio C1 under the direction of producer Jang Siwon, running from Season 1 in 2022 through Season 3. The show gained popularity by featuring retired professional baseball legends competing against amateur teams nationwide. Subsequently, conflicts arose over production costs and interpretation of intellectual property rights, and when Studio C1 launched "Bulkkot Baseball" independently, the dispute escalated into legal action.
In its ruling, the court emphasized the resources and contributions JTBC invested in the success of "Choi Kyang Baseball." The court stated, "JTBC and JTBC Joongang invested over 30 billion won in production over three years, handling the program's production, broadcasting, and promotion. Thanks to this financial support and a stable broadcasting platform, Studio C1 was able to recruit renowned coaches and players such as Kim Sungkeun, Lee Daeho, Park Yongtaek, and Jung Keunwoo as cast members."
The court further noted, "Studio C1 appears to have produced 'Bulkkot Baseball' with the intention of attracting viewers who anticipated a subsequent season by leveraging the reputation and appeal of 'Choi Kyang Baseball' while excluding JTBC. As a result, JTBC was unable to produce and broadcast Season 4 of 'Choi Kyang Baseball' in a timely manner, and the simultaneous distribution of similar content diluted viewer interest, thereby causing economic harm to JTBC."
The court also rejected Studio C1's claim of copyright ownership. The court explained, "At the time of the co-production agreement, JTBC agreed to pay 110% of the standard production cost as a broadcasting fee in exchange for holding the program's copyright. Studio C1 was entitled to a share of viewership incentives and 50% of sponsorship, product placement, and virtual advertising revenue, meaning JTBC sufficiently compensated Studio C1 for its investment and efforts."
In response, the "Bulkkot Baseball" team issued an official statement on December 20, expressing opposition to parts of the ruling and declaring, "We will seek to correct the judgment through an appeal." The production team stated, "The claim that JTBC holds the copyright to 'Bulkkot Baseball' was not accepted, and all applications concerning producer Jang Siwon personally were dismissed. We do not agree with the premise that 'Bulkkot Baseball' infringed upon JTBC's achievements."
They added, "While we are still reviewing the remaining programs for the 2025 season, our commitment to our promise to the fans remains unchanged."
Meanwhile, JTBC stated immediately after the ruling, "This is an important decision for the content production industry to move in a desirable direction," and added, "We will pursue additional legal action, including claims for damages."
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