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Court rules against FIFTY FIFTY over 'Cupid' ownership; ATTRAKT vows to appeal
This photo shows new lineup of K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY, restructured by ATTRAKT after contractual dispute. Center is member Keena, the only original member who returned to ATTRAKT. Newsis
By Pyo Kyung-min
The copyright to K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY's breakout hit "Cupid" has been recognized as belonging to The Givers, a production company previously accused of attempting to poach the group's members from their agency, ATTRAKT.
The Givers announced the ruling Thursday, saying the Seoul Central District Court had dismissed ATTRAKT's lawsuit seeking to claim copyright ownership of the song.
"The court ruled that 'the plaintiff's claims are without merit and are therefore all dismissed,'" the company said in a statement.
Released in 2023, FIFTY FIFTY's "Cupid" became a viral sensation on short-form video platforms and soared to No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 25 weeks.
ATTRAKT responded later that day, saying it was preparing to appeal the decision.
"We are currently reviewing the case legally and preparing an appeal," the agency said. "We will provide further updates once the legal schedule is confirmed."
The copyright case is part of a wider legal dispute between the two companies that began in June 2023, when all four original members of FIFTY FIFTY — Saena, Sio, Aran and Keena — filed for an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT.
The agency responded by filing criminal complaints against The Givers' CEO, An Seong-il.
ATTRAKT also challenged The Givers' copyright registration of "Cupid," filing a lawsuit demanding the transfer of rights. It argued that the two firms' service contract required The Givers to obtain the song's copyrights on ATTRAKT's behalf.
It also alleged that the Swedish composers who wrote the original version of "Cupid" believed ATTRAKT would be the recipient in the rights transfer.
The court, however, rejected these claims.
According to The Givers, it acquired full rights to the song from the original creators and registered them under its name with the Korea Music Copyright Association in March 2023.
Meanwhile, FIFTY FIFTY resumed activities after Keena withdrew her appeal of the denied injunction regarding contract termination and returned to ATTRAKT. The agency later restructured the group, replacing the three former members with four new members — Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana and Athena.
The revamped group released its third mini album, "Day & Night," on April 29.