Proposal to stop Blackpink's performance if copyright obligations are not fulfilled

SGGPO 07/27/2023 20:50

The Vietnam Center for Music Copyright Protection (VCPMC) informed that the Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) has just sent a letter to the unit requesting the unit to coordinate in stopping copyright infringement in the performance program of the group Blackpink in Vietnam.

Blackpink group

Specifically, in the letter sent to Mr. Dang Dinh Tam, Chairman of IME Music Company Limited and Mr. Lim Kean Hwa, Director of IME Music Company Limited, KOMCA affirmed: "KOMCA grants VCPMC the exclusive right to license the right to perform in public for all musical works in KOMCA's repertoire performed on VCPMC's territory, including but not limited to works composed by KOMCA member authors.

We understand that many musical works owned by KOMCA members will be performed in Hanoi , Vietnam on July 29 and 30, 2023. Under the Copyright Trust agreement for our members, KOMCA manages the trust copyright so that KOMCA can collect royalties on behalf of our members.

Also under this Copyright Concession Agreement, our members are not allowed to allow third parties to use or enforce the copyright rights of members that have been conferred to KOMCA. KOMCA expects VCPMC to take decisive action against users who harm the interests of authors represented by KOMCA by not fully complying with VCPMC's license terms.

In the event that a music copyright license is not granted prior to the performance, KOMCA respectfully requests that IME Music Company stop performing musical works from KOMCA's repertoire.

Previously, when there was information that the group Black Pink would have a tour in Hanoi at the end of July, VCPMC contacted IME Music Company Limited to request permission and pay royalties before the show took place according to the provisions of the law on copyright.

However, as of July 19, IME Company has not yet exercised copyright. On July 21, Vietnam's state management agencies also held a three-party meeting to satisfactorily resolve the existing issues.

To ensure the rights and interests of authors - owners of works, on the principle of respecting the bilateral cooperation commitments between VCPMC and KOMCA, and the letter that KOMCA sent to IME, VCPMC requests that state management agencies revoke the performance license of the group Blackpink organized by IME Music Company Limited for seriously violating copyright; having acts contrary to the commitments to VCPMC and the instructions that the state management agencies of Vietnam requested IME to implement before the program took place.

Also according to VCPMC, on July 27, the center received an email from a person named Pham Tam - Project Manager of IME Music Company Limited with the following content: “First of all, IME Vietnam would like to thank VCPMC for proactively contacting and supporting IME Vietnam in complying with music copyright. Up to this point, we have not yet reached an agreement with the singer's management company on copyright, because the songs in the program are all copyrighted by YG, the unit providing the performing artists. IME Vietnam agrees to pay the song copyright fees, comply with Vietnamese law, if during the implementation process, IME Vietnam can provide a power of attorney/permission to use the song copyright in Hanoi, please ask VCPMC for guidance so that both parties can implement it together".

Immediately after receiving the email from IME, VCPMC sent a response letter stating that up to now, IME has not yet fulfilled its copyright obligations according to the working process discussed by both parties. All 13 works according to Approval Document No. 2438/SVHTT-QLNT of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports are under the protection of VCPMC. Of which, 12 works belong to KOMCA members.

VCPMC has worked with IME many times to explain, guide and propose cooperation options for IME to fulfill its copyright obligations. However, up to now, IME has not fulfilled its obligations.

VCPMC said it will send a document to the licensing authority and relevant authorities requesting to stop the performance program as requested by KOMCA and in accordance with Vietnamese law.

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