Block B is trapped

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

Block B loses case against Stardom Entertainment



Block B has lost their lawsuit against Stardom Entertainment.

The boys had filed an injunction against their exclusive contract back in January. Both Block B and Stardom Entertainment had gone back and forth, with both parties claiming what the other said was false.

However, the Seoul Central Court has dismissed their request, explaining, "From the evidence provided so far, it is difficult to claim that the label purposely did not pay Block B. It is also difficult to say that the label did not provide proper facilities such as studios and dorms, and it is also difficult to say that they did not provide education and guidance. From written records, it cannot be said that Stardom Entertainment violated their management obligations."

The court added, "There is a possibility that the musical income of 430,000,000 KRW (approximately $385,000 USD) and the event income of 5,000,000 KRW (approximately $4,500 USD) was not properly taken care of. However, from just the evidence provided, it cannot be said that the label purposely kept the money from the members."

Finally, the court said, "The label has promised to pay the members the part that they have not been paid. There is a big probability that the unpaid fees will be paid. It is difficult to say that the exclusive contract has been nullified because of a violation of management obligations."



Block B releases official statement + will not be working with Stardom Entertainment again


After Block B's case in filing for a nullification for their contract was dismissed by the court, the boys have released an official statement.

The full statement reads:

"First, we want to tell all the fans that love and support Block B that we are very sorry.

The court made their decision even though they accepted that about 430,000,000 KRW (approximately $385,000 USD) from the musical income and a part of the event income were left out. We believe this is because they wanted us to follow an official ruling that was decided after additional battles on the original lawsuit and thinking deeply about it.

For example, even though evidence was provided about the management contract on Japan's Bauhaus, they have mistakenly stated that it is difficult to determine if they had violated their management obligation because the contract was not submitted. There are other various decisions that the members cannot accept. One such example is saying that unlike the basic royalties paid in advance, the royalties paid in advance by LOEN Entertainment cannot be seen as income that should be paid to the members.

From this, we will be calmly fighting the original case to confirm the legitimacy of the contract nullification. We will be demanding responsibility from Stardom Entertainment of the violation of management obligation and violating the exclusive contract.

Also, the court decided, "The Block B members have fought over the status of the contract nullification while they independently promoted, so there is also a possibility that these promotions can be checked for legitimacy later."

This is because if the Block B members are blocked from promoting independently, it is violating our lawful right to work and our general right to freedom of action.

The Block B members have no intention to promote under Stardom Entertainment, so they will be preparing independent promotions. If the legitimacy of the contract nullification is not acknowledged in the original case, then we will be taking responsibility for the due damages.

We want to tell you again that we apologize for worrying our fans. The Block B members will be giving back to the fans' worries, love, and support by showing a more mature side."



Sources akp (1 , 2) and nate (1 , 2 , 3 )



sigh

Comments

[bauci.livejournal.com]

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

I really thought they had a good legal team and could set an example and precedent for other groups stuck in crap contracts.

[archenemy02.livejournal.com]

Not gonna work out if the law isn't in your favor + no clear accounts keeping from stardom + death of ex-CEO who took a huge chunk of the moolah. They may have had a decent start but things really turned against then as the case dragged on:/

[bauci.livejournal.com]

I swear, the band forgot to pay a tip somewhere or bumped into someone without apologizing before debut and they put a curse on them. It's been one hurdle after another for them since the beginning.

[jasmineakaiumi.livejournal.com]

And bigass, insane hurdles at that.

[es2pido.livejournal.com]

I just wish that their promotions would still be as good. After all, their parents are the ones who spend for their promos anyway

[bauci.livejournal.com]

prayer circle for P.O's dad's business to continue to do well.

[soongie.livejournal.com]

i wish them the best. not worrying much regarding their promotions anyway because i know they have the talent to write their own songs.

[lishalishalisha.livejournal.com]

Holy clusterfuck Batman.

So what I got out of this is that nobody kept records of, like, anything, so they can't do anything, but that stardom do owe the boys money?

Ugh, this is confusing ლ(-_-ლ)

[donttakethebait.livejournal.com]

ikr this shit sounds shady as hell

[archenemy02.livejournal.com]

Seems like it, according to the way the ruling was worded. Basically the court suspects money to be unfairly withheld but cannot/doesn't want to make a decision about it lol.

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

When can they be signed elsewhere?

[hearttaek.livejournal.com]

Bad bad bad news. Entertainment industry is messed up.

[donttakethebait.livejournal.com]

smh at this mess. poor bbs.

[pepper.livejournal.com]

Korean law sucks ass.

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

I was sooooooo angry when I saw this earlier, because there's so much evidence in Block B's favour; even their TV shows showed their dorms/practice rooms were insufficient. The judge was just shutting his eyes to that.
So glad Block B aren't standing for it. They deserve better than this.

[bauci.livejournal.com]

Their dorm(s) and practice rooms made me cringe every time they were shown. No wonder most members chose not to live there permanently.

[cairistiona.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually know they didn't, but I'm glad. At least living at home/their own places they wouldn't have to deal with that. And they wouldn't have to pay rent/the cleaners/etc. We all know they're clearly not made of money.

[allegsiseu.livejournal.com]

great, so now they're cocked blocked too?

[erbalurbal.livejournal.com]

Their situation sucks but I knew it was going to be hard to prove anything with the clusterfuck going on in that company. They boys are young so they probably weren't thinking about keeping receipts and evidence until it was too late. The laws in Korea are so vague and messy.

[nortonamo.livejournal.com]

damn......

[harisukaori.livejournal.com]

Is anyone surprised by this? I was certain that they would lose. They're not JYJ, they don't have bazillion angry fangirls, they have little fame compared to JYJ and they're simply not relevant (sorry Block B, I really like you but you're just not anywhere near relevant). And then there's an entertainment company and even though it's small it still has a lot more money, esteem and sway within the industry than Block B.
JYJ were an exception, everyone else would've lost the case.

[lovelyxbeauty.livejournal.com]

eh not really, Hangeng also won, and I'm pretty sure Park Jung Min won his lawsuit against his company.

[laeryn.livejournal.com]

Yes, Jungmin won.

Although I know where she comes from -- it's easier to favor the company in a case like this with a nugu group than it is with people like DBSK, Super Junior and SS501 members, especially if the company is as chaotic keeping track of everything and Block B's seem to be? From what I am understanding, at least :/ which is not much.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

Korean Law showing itself as the light of Justice. not.

The only thing more disgusting were the netizen comments. Those guys are scum.

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

Idk if I'm imagining things but their dorm shown in match up 2 was a lot smaller than their match up 1 dorm which made me wonder why the company would downsize when the normal thing to do is, you know, give your group a better place to say. Not to mention they were super happy to win a tv at the bbc world camp iirc.

They have a performance schedule on Zico's birthday, does this mean they're gonna be managing everything themselves? :(

[raiha-kasep.livejournal.com]

When the first news released...I was like.....wha......damn...my feeling is too complicated....

then the 2nd news released....and I like LOL-ed, coz thats is Block B that I knew kk
promoting independently is hard,,,but I really hope they do well,,, /pray

[jjang-intae.livejournal.com]

As long as they leave Stardom and can promote as they wish, I'll just be happy for them. Stardom needs to buck up because they've got other groups in their company and they can't keep repeating this. Block B got a pathetic excuse of a dorm and practice room. All of them deserve so much better than this :(

[kanbinayume.livejournal.com]

I'm so mad about the dismissal, but as long as they're don't have to deal with SE and that crappy management, I think Block B will be okay. I'm glad that they're moving forward from this and keeping up individual promotions. They deserve so much better than they've been getting, and I hope they'll receive better treatment with whichever company they decide to join, if they join any happy tribe ent

[lovelyxbeauty.livejournal.com]

:( this is messed up, they had a good case, I'll never understand this, hope they stick together and get a good company.

[purekpopology.livejournal.com]

Ugh this is BS. I really like the Block B isn't backing down though, and is just keepin' on. You do it Block B.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

so the court agrees they are owed money but will not let them out of their contract, I don't get it, wasn't the lack of pay a violation of the contract or do contracts only work in favor of companies

[in-noctem.livejournal.com]

MTE.

"There is a possibility that the musical income of 430,000,000 KRW (approximately $385,000 USD) and the event income of 5,000,000 KRW (approximately $4,500 USD) was not properly taken care of. However, from just the evidence provided, it cannot be said that the label purposely kept the money from the members."

This part reads to me like Stardom owed them money but it wasn't ~intentional and for some reason the court thinks that's a good enough reason to rule in Stardom's favour? How does one unintentionally withhold payment.

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

no, they're saying that even if they did believe Block B's side of the story, there isn't enough evidence to support their side of things, so they can't rule in Block B's favor

[queenhinata.livejournal.com]

:( poor bbs

[aaalove.livejournal.com]

If i understand this, there are no records..and the fact that there are no records just gave me a guilty verdict for stardom. I hope block b gets a nulled contract and can continue making music under another label.

[oppameansit.livejournal.com]

sucks for them i guess

this is why teenagers shouldn't sign contracts, tbh