MBK applies for "T-ara" trademark rights

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

Veteran K-pop girl group T-ara might be banned from using its name as the group's former management agency sought the exclusive right to use the name Monday.

MBK Entertainment applied for the trademark rights to the name "T-ara" with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 28, according to the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) on Monday.

It was three days before the four members -- Jiyeon, Hyomin, Eunjung and Qri -- parted ways with the management agency upon the expiration of their contracts.

MBK confirmed the news in a telephone conversation with Yonhap News Agency, saying, "We did it because it's natural for the company to have the rights to the name 'T-ara.'" But there was no prior consultation with group members in the process, the company added.

The application, if accepted, will ban members who left the company from exercising the trademark to the name for at least 10 years. In that case, they will be forced to find a new group name as former BEAST members and TVXQ members did under the same situation.

Earlier, Hyomin suggested that the act may continue either independently or through a new agency in a post to her fans on her Instagram account. "We can't say for certain now, but the members will be able to stay together whenever, wherever we are," she wrote.

Since its debut in 2009 with the EP "Lies," T-ara rose to fame with hits such as "Bo Peep Bo Peep," "Roly Poly" and "Lovey Dovey." The group released its ninth EP, "What's My Name," last June. T-ara initially started out with six members but later went through several lineup changes amid departures and allegations of an internal bullying incident.



source: Yonhap News

Comments

[krissasaur]

Honestly, if they stay together, pulling a Beast and just changing their name would probably be good for them anyway since just googling T-ARA leads to drama and the results are NAGL. So thanks MBK!

[sforza.livejournal.com]

right? it could be a fresh start, a clean slate! sounds like it'd be really good for them in the long run

[audiograms.livejournal.com]

Nail on the head

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

the only difference is that b2st/highlight didnt suffer a scandal whereas t-ara had that bullying thing that is still lingering on right now even when it was proven false

[krissasaur]

I wasn't comparing them to Beast. All I meant by "Pulling a Beast" is that Beast left their company and changed their name while staying together.

And that is exactly.... my point. A new start would be good for them.

[lechuza-yoya.livejournal.com]

they can make it with other names!! similar or not. you CAN do it girls!!

[jinkiestabi.livejournal.com]

They could change their name and do T-ara songs and call them “covers”. Exactly like Highlight does now.

Try again, MBK.

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Highlight actually has an easier time performing their back catalouge because Junhyung had a hand in producing a ton of their stuff and Shinsadong Tiger, who produced a bunch of stuff for them, openly said he'd give them permission to perform it.

[yixingsforehead.livejournal.com]

shinsadong tiger or brave bros won't care about newt-ara contiuing to perform their songs either...

[blck-ink.livejournal.com]

mbk obviously wasn't prepared. how are you only trademarking it after 10years?? oh welk, i wish the ladies all the succes they can get under a different name.

[welljustguess.livejournal.com]

yes why are they so late

[madrigalpals.livejournal.com]

Trash company, trash CEO. Hope this backfires horribly on him.

[welljustguess.livejournal.com]

I agree that it's natural. It's okay, the name itself wont bring much good on the members because of the bullying issue

[klauses.livejournal.com]

always thought it was kind of an uninspired name anyway