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Korean star Rain |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
K-pop superstar Rain postponed his concerts in the United States this month, as he faces a lawsuit over the use of the name ``Rain.''
Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, was originally scheduled to hold concerts in Honolulu, Hawaii on June 15, Atlanta, Georgia on June 19, New York City on June 23, San Francisco on June 27, and Los Angeles on June 30. This was part of his ``World Tour 2006-2007 Rain's Coming,'' which ends this month.
However, Rain Corporation filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Rain, his former management agency JYP Entertainment, Ltd. and concert organizer Star M Entertainment over the use of the name ``Rain.'' The case was filed at the Nevada district court in Reno last February 16.
Rain Corporation, a music company, claimed it has the copyright over ``Rain,'' which is the name of its Beatles tribute band. According to its Web site www.rainthebeatlesexperience.com, four American musicians formed the band in the mid-1970s. They named themselves Rain, after the title of a Beatles song.
Since the filing of the lawsuit, Rain's U.S. concert promotional posters had been changed to ``Ji-hoon's World Tour 2007.'' It is still unknown when Rain will resume his U.S. concert tour.
Rain is scheduled to start filming for the Hollywood film ``Speed Racer'' next month in Germany.
Meanwhile, American comedian Stephen Colbert continued his so-called ``feud'' with Rain, even poking fun at the Korean media's reaction.
In his comedy show ``Colbert Report,'' Colbert said Korean media lashed out at him for earlier comments against Rain. He quoted a Korean news article saying ``(Korean) netizens were enraged that it was white supremacy.''
``White supremacy? This whole thing is about how I came in second. If anything, it's Korean supremacy. I'm the one who should be mad. Koreans have been trying to keep the white man down ever since we invaded their country,'' he said.
Colbert ranked second in Time Magazine's online poll of the most influential people of 2007, following Rain who landed the top spot.
``I am just an artist trying to share my music with the world and if I happen to crush a certain Korean punk in the process, so be it,'' he said.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
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