ADOR Wins Partially in a NewJeans Music Video Lawsuit

• Dolphiners Films receives a fine for uploading a NewJeans video without ADOR's consent.
• The case illustrates ADOR's rigorous control over NewJeans content.
• The controversy adds to ADOR's persisting legal battle with former NewJeans member Danielle.

ADOR Co., the management agency behind K-pop sensation act NewJeans, gained a partial victory in its first damages lawsuit against production business Dolphiners Films on Tuesday, highlighting the lingering legal ramifications from the group's larger contract conflict.

Dolphiners Films was ordered by Seoul Central District Court's Civil Division 62 to pay ₩ 1 billion (~ $678,000 USD) to ADOR for breach of contract connected to the unauthorized uploading of a NewJeans music video. The penalty includes a 12% yearly interest rate from Dec 2024 until full payment. However, citing inadequate evidence, the court denied ADOR's claim against director Shin Woo-seok, asking for an additional ₩ 100 million in damages for defamation.

ADOR–Dolphiners Dispute Centers Upon Unauthorized Video Upload

The issue roots in an incident in August 2024, when Dolphiners Films uploaded a "director's cut" version of NewJeans' ETA music video to Ban Hee-soo Channel, an unofficial YouTube fan account that Shin reportedly ran. According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Shin stated that after the video was uploaded, ADOR requested that the director's cut and all NewJeans-related content be removed. However, ADOR denied requesting such a broad withdrawal.

“We only requested the director’s cut of ETA be taken down,” the agency said, as reported by  Korea JoongAng Daily. Further calling the upload an “unauthorized disclosure,” the agency said, “We never asked for the deletion or halt of all NewJeans-related content from channels. Shin is spreading false information.”

Following this, Shin filed a defamation suit, saying that ADOR's remarks had harmed his reputation. ADOR subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against Dolphiners Films as well, claiming that the upload breached ownership rights and contractual procedures that required the agency's prior authorization.

Dolphiners Films alleged there was a verbal agreement allowing the upload, and former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin also testified on behalf of Dolphiners at a court hearing in late 2025. The court, however, determined that there was insufficient contractual support for such a claim.

Ruling Unfolds Amidst ADOR’s Contract Dispute with Ex-NewJeans Member Danielle

The decision regarding the damages comes amid a broader legal battle between ADOR and ex-NewJeans member Danielle, who sought to end her exclusive contracts with the agency, along with other members, in late 2024 due to allegations of managerial failures and disagreements over executive authority. 

However, when most of the members are returning or are scheduled to return, Danielle stands out, ending the association with the company. The ex-NewJeans member had recently spoken out in a livestream after she was terminated, along with a lawsuit filed against her, a family member, and Min Hee-jin.

Back in October 2025, judges decided that NewJeans' contracts with the company remained valid, and that Min Hee-jin's exit did not violate any parts of that contract. The court ruled in ADOR's favour, with the company retaining the group’s control until at least 2029.

Dispute Sharpens Focus on Copyright Control in K-pop Production

According to legal experts in the industry, the damages claim highlights persistent problems with copyright ownership and contractual clarity in K-pop production agreements. These concerns grow more serious when music videos and other creative works are co-produced, but distribution rights remain ambiguous. Such legal cases caution that without explicit consent and clearance procedures, even high-profile collaborators may face serious legal consequences.

For ADOR, the partial victory supports the legal basis for strict control over NewJeans' artistic creations and may influence how future K-pop production contracts are constructed, notably in terms of director's cuts and third-party publishing rights.