CNBLUE, Crying Nut copyright spat gets nasty

Pop band CNBLUE countercharged punk band Crying Nut on June 27 with spreading false information following Crying Nut’s earlier suit against CNBLUE for copyright infringement.

CNBLUE also filed for an injunction against Crying Nut’s online criticism.

The copyright dispute arose on Feb. 12 when Crying Nut filed a suit against CNBLUE and their agency FNC Entertainment for unauthorized use of their song “Pilsal Off-Side” on Mnet’s “M Countdown” in 2010. Crying Nut also charged that CNBLUE had released a DVD of the concert in Japan and profited from it.

“Although the case on the principal matter is still ongoing, Crying Nut has markedly damaged CNBLUE’s personal rights by saying that ‘one must pay the penalties for intellectual property rights infringement.’ It is now hard to restore their reputation as hallyu stars,” CNBLUE’s representative stated.

Crying Nut is a best-selling independent rock band and one of the most influential punk bands in Korea. The band, which has performed together since 1995, made its first release in 1998. The song “Pilsal Off-Side” was featured in the band’s fourth album, released in 2002.

By Suh Hye-rim (sheren6735@heraldcorp.com)