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Court Dismisses HYBE and ILLIT Lawsuit Against YouTube Company Fastview
57 minutes ago•Lisa Park
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The Seoul Western District Court has dismissed a 280 million won (~$215,000 USD) lawsuit filed by HYBE, Belift Lab, and the members of ILLIT against Fastview, a content production company. The court rejected all claims of defamation and damages, ordering the plaintiffs to cover the total legal costs.
Key Facts
- Judge Lee Kwan-hyung of the 12th Civil Division dismissed all damage claims filed by HYBE, its subsidiary Belift Lab, and ILLIT members Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha.
- Filed in August 2024, the lawsuit targeted seven "cyber wrecker" YouTube channels for allegedly spreading false facts and defaming the agency and artists.
- Fastview operates the YouTube channels "People Box" and "Daissue," which were among the entities involved in the legal action.
- HYBE alleged Fastview engaged in "reverse viral" marketing, claiming ILLIT members slandered NewJeans and that HYBE was linked to a specific religious organization.
- Fastview denied any intention to slander the plaintiffs.
- The court’s detailed reasoning for the judgment has not been publicly disclosed.
Key Terms
- Cyber Wrecker: YouTube channels that post provocative or malicious content about celebrities to profit from views.
- Reverse Viral: A marketing tactic used to spread negative information or rumors to damage a target's reputation.
Key Quote
"Dismiss all of the plaintiffs' claims, and the plaintiffs shall bear all litigation costs." — Judge Lee Kwan-hyung
