The comedy world's representative "catchphrase duo" Kim Jun-ho and Cho Hye-ryeon, who have bickered for years over the original creator of the catchphrase "jana~," have entered an unexpected phase in the dispute. It appears Kim Jun-ho has ultimately won (?).
On the 11th episode of MBC entertainment show Save Me, Holmes, the recent trend of trademarking catchphrases became a hot topic.
That day Jang Dong-min said, "These days, personal skills and ideas are also protected by patents," and brought up a patent he is preparing. He added, "Comedian catchphrases can also be registered as sound trademarks," drawing the cast's interest.
In fact, comedian Kim Dae-hee has registered and manages the catchphrase "bapmukja" as a trademark, and opinions were raised that other comedians should protect their catchphrases to earn revenue like music copyrights. In that process, the subject that naturally became a topic was Kim Jun-ho's catchphrase "jana~." But Jang Dong-min pointed out, "Isn't that senior Cho Hye-ryeon's? 'janha' was originally done first by senior Cho Hye-ryeon," reigniting the original-creator debate.
Earlier, on last year's SBS entertainment show My Ugly Duckling (abbreviated Miwoose), Kim Jun-ho and Cho Hye-ryeon were also involved in a catchphrase ownership dispute. That was because the original-creator controversy suddenly continued over Kim Jun-ho's "jana" and Cho Hye-ryeon's "janha." It is said Cho Hye-ryeon started it first on the 1994 program Laugh Riot. Kim Jun-ho said he received an award for "jana" in 2013. In response, Cho Hye-ryeon said, "Give me your award. I couldn't even win an award for Golum?" and Kim Jun-ho added, "And I threw the ceremonial first pitch with 'jana' in game 5 of the 2013 Korean Series," driving the point home.
Jang Dong-min, who was in the middle, raised the ownership dispute by saying, "We need to make it clear whether there's no compensation for damages." The question was who would be the rightful owner. Kim Jun-ho said, "Actually, we're completely different," and added, "Cho Hye-ryeon forced people to laugh. My point is naturalness," to which Cho Hye-ryeon retorted with a smile, "You came asking me to sing a congratulatory song and now you'll sue me?" Kim Jun-ho even produced evidence that he had registered the sound trademark as the final rights holder for "carehaejana." Cho Hye-ryeon asked, "How much have you made from this?" and Kim Jun-ho awkwardly replied, "No one uses it."
When Jang Dong-min egged her on by saying, "If Cho Hye-ryeon is the original, she can sue," Cho Hye-ryeon pulled out an old video of Kim Jun-ho. On Life Bar, Kim Jun-ho had already acknowledged that Cho Hye-ryeon was the original. In the actual clip, Kim Jun-ho is seen admitting, "I copied Cho Hye-ryeon's manner of speaking on broadcasts" and saying, "the motive was Cho Hye-ryeon." Seeing the video later, Kim Jun-ho was genuinely embarrassed and said, "I drank a lot." Jang Dong-min found it interesting and said, "He testified himself." Cho Hye-ryeon also flustered Kim Jun-ho by saying, "Seven to three is mine; give me 30% of the money that circulates from 'jana' to me."
Meanwhile, on this broadcast the two catchphrases were mentioned again. Legally, the situation looked different. To have a catchphrase protected by trademark registration, it must be claimed first. Even Yang Se-chan said, "If you register first, you're the owner," surprising viewers. It was revealed that Kim Jun-ho had actually been the first to attempt registering the sound trademark for the catchphrase "jana~," effectively acquiring the rights, which drew attention.
Internet users also showed a heated reaction. "The original seems to be Cho Hye-ryeon lol","It's true Kim Jun-ho used it more, but first registration is the law","So if 'jana~' appears in an ad now will the royalties go to Kim Jun-ho?","Comedic catchphrases have now entered the copyright war era," and various comments followed. As the "jana~" catchphrase debate, once a source of laughs, expanded into a legal rights issue, changes in how comedians manage their catchphrases are expected.
[Photo] Broadcast screen, OSEN DB
[OSEN]