An excerpt from the announcement states:
"Our company has maintained a policy of zero tolerance towards businesses that continuously engage in large-scale production and distribution of counterfeit merchandise, both online and offline, that makes unauthorized use of BTS artist images and trademarks."
The company will be working with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) on expunging the infringement of BTS's trademark rights. They will be conducting an inspection on the days, October 27 to 29, of the septet's concert at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium.
The announcement then went on:
"Big Hit will continue to strengthen our efforts to strictly manage the use of artist images and trademark rights. For your protection, please exercise caution by avoiding the purchase of counterfeit or unauthorized merchandise."
The growing eminence of K-pop in the world also increases the markets for artists-related merchandise, according to the Patent Office. Also, this causes manufacturing and distribution of large quantities of bootlegged goods and knockoffs.
Last month, the Patent Office discovered four wholesale companies that sold clothing, stationery, and many more miscellaneous goods using BTS's trademark. All of these companies were charged after the Property Office confiscated these counterfeit goods.
"BTS is a cultural icon representing Korea. If counterfeit items that use BTS-related trademarks distributed widely, it will affect the public image as well as the reputation of the trademark owners and artists," Park Wonju, Director of Korea Patent Office, said.
"For the K-Pop wave to continue to spread and grow, it is necessary to secure and protect intellectual property such as trademarks and designs quickly and efficiently," he added.
In May this year, Big Hit also filed a complaint against fraudulent BTS goods in California. The complaint stated violations committed under the Lanham Act, California Civil Code § 3344(a) and California Business & Professions Code §§ 17200.
Moreover, the entertainment agency said that these fake goods, such as visors, hats, posters, jerseys, tour and program books, among others are "likely to injure the reputation" of the company.
They added that the company is eligible to damages given the income that they lost because of the selling and distribution of counterfeit products.
