2NE1 had to keep Coachella reunion a secret due to legal ramifications with YG for name usage

Article: "Needed YG's permission" The reason 2NE1 appeared at Coachella in secrecy

Source: The Joongang via Naver

1. [+205, -15] I'm sure it's unfortunate for the idols but the agency is right in this case. These legal issues wouldn't arise if the artists produced all of their own music but how many K-Pop idols actually do? They're all trained by their agencies, put together by them, and marketed by them. If they want to head separate ways independently, then they need to give up the name too. It's not like agencies are able to use the names HOT or 2NE1 anymore anyway but it's still unfair for the group to just take the name whenever they want and use it publicly like this. There should be legal conditions like having to pay a fee to use it or buying it back altogether.

2. [+104, -6] I think the agency has more rights when it comes to the name... since these stars were made by them

3. [+79, -5] I really liked 2NE1.. right, Hyun Suk hyung?

4. [+34, -2] On the contrary, I think agencies can let these things slide considering how much these idols have made for them monetarily

5. [+32, -6] I still don't understand why 2NE1 was suddenly disbanded...

6. [+25, -0] Unless YG intends to continue using the 2NE1 name in the same way, they should just give it to them. It's not like they're going to add new members to continue the name or anything.

7. [+20, -0] Whatever the case, it's not like YG's using the 2NE1 name for anything so there's no point in getting into a legal tussle over it, right?

8. [+14, -3] I don't think it's fair to compare idol names to commercial products. You can put a commercial label on other things but you can't put an idol group's name on another group of members. If YG were to get together four new trainees and call them 2NE1, who would believe them? It doesn't matter how much work the agency put into creating the group because they no longer are able to use this name anywhere else without them. YG or SM will not be able to call any other group 2NE1 or HOT. Who do you think of when you think of 2NE1? You think of these four members. Therefore, the name should belong to them.

9. [+11, -0] Would be nice if they could just handle this for a decent cost and just transfer the name over. Not like YG is going to use it anywhere else and it makes their image look bad by keeping them from using it like this.

10. [+11, -1] Come to think of it, JYP has never had issues like this. Not sure why agencies even want to hold on to the names considering they can't even debut other people under them again. It's just another ploy to keep idols tied down under their control...

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