ADOR said it won the lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract with NewJeans, and said it is still waiting for the members.
ADOR said on the 30th, "Today the court ruled in the lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract between our company and our affiliated artists NewJeans that the exclusive contract between the two parties remains valid," and explained, "The court found that our company did not breach its duties as a management company, and that attempts to escape the exclusive contract by creating the appearance of a breakdown in the relationship of trust should not be permitted."
It added, "We are deeply grateful for the court's decision," and said, "Since the artist's claim to terminate the exclusive contract in November last year, we have carefully responded with a heavy heart, watching a series of processes: the main lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, an injunction application to prevent confusion until the main judgment was issued, the court's decision to grant that injunction, the artist's immediate appeal and the dismissal decision on that appeal."
The agency also said, "Over nearly a year, the court has repeatedly decided in several related lawsuits that our company holds the status of a management company under the exclusive contract, and that the artists must carry out entertainment activities with our company," and emphasized, "We earnestly hope that today's result, in which various claims and facts were verified over a long period and the same-minded judgment was once again handed down, will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter."
Finally, "We will once again engrave the role and duty of a management company required by the exclusive contract. As we stated during the main trial, we have finished preparations for activities such as releasing a full-length album and are waiting. We will do our best through discussions with the artists to return to be with the fans," it said.
Earlier that morning, at the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 41 (presiding Judge Jung Hoe-il), the sentencing hearing was held for the lawsuit filed by ADOR against the NewJeans members to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, and the court ruled in favor of ADOR.
The court said, "It is difficult to conclude that ADOR breached the exclusive contract solely by dismissing former ADOR representative Min Hee-jin," and judged, "Former representative Min did not act to protect NewJeans but engaged in a public campaign for independence."
In response, the legal representatives of the NewJeans members, the law firm Sejong, said, "The members respect the court's judgment, but in the current situation where the trust relationship with ADOR has already been completely broken, it is impossible for them to return to ADOR and continue normal entertainment activities," and added, "Accordingly, the members plan to immediately appeal the first-instance judgment, and they hope the appellate court will comprehensively review the factual relationships and the legal principles regarding the termination of the exclusive contract and render a wise decision."
The following is ADOR's full statement.
Today the court ruled in the lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract between our company and our affiliated artists NewJeans that the exclusive contract between the two parties remains valid.
The court found that our company did not breach its duties as a management company, and that attempts to escape the exclusive contract by creating the appearance of a breakdown in the relationship of trust should not be permitted.
We are deeply grateful for the court's decision.
Since the artist's claim to terminate the exclusive contract in November last year, we have carefully responded with a heavy heart, watching a series of processes: the main lawsuit to confirm the validity of the exclusive contract, an injunction application to prevent confusion until the main judgment was issued, the court's decision to grant that injunction, the artist's immediate appeal and the dismissal decision on that appeal.
Over nearly a year, the court has repeatedly decided in several related lawsuits that our company holds the status of a management company under the exclusive contract, and that the artists must carry out entertainment activities with our company.
We earnestly hope that today's result, in which various claims and facts were verified over a long period and the same-minded judgment was once again handed down, will serve as an opportunity for the artists to calmly reflect on this matter.
We will once again engrave the role and duty of a management company required by the exclusive contract. As we stated during the main trial, we have finished preparations for activities such as releasing a full-length album and are waiting. We will do our best through discussions with the artists to return to be with the fans.<
[Photo] OSEN DB
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