Koreans Angered Over “The Camp” Infringing BTS’s Publicity Rights To Make Profit

On January 9, 3034, HYBE sent a warning to military community app, The Camp, for using BTS for monetary gain and profit.

Usually, idol fans and companies have no problems with the use of The Camp. This is as fans can continue to send letters to their idols, as well as receive official updates from the military squads in the form of photos. This is not a special privilege for fans and idols as all citizens of South Korea use the app for the same functions, to stay in touch with the soldiers.

This time, The Camp crossed the line. The problem began when the app started using BTS’s IP (intellectual property rights) without permission. HYBE discovered that many of BTS’s faces and names were used in the platform’s Recommended Star Soldier service, a service providing information about the artists’ military life and community service for the fans. They opened and operated individual communities for the BTS members with the word “official” added to them. HYBE believed this effectively violated the agency’s rights to operate the official fan community.

The Camp using the word “official” for BTS members. | The Camp

They also sold dolls and soldier name tags through their commerce channel, The Camp Mall and used the BTS members real names on the tag. The dolls were sold at a high price and the agency’s stance is that the artists’ name also constitutes IP.

HYBE Sends Warning To Military Community App “The Camp” For Using BTS For Monetary Gain

Many Koreans were angered over the news. They protested that soldiers are not the property of the country, and that the military should not be using BTS for commercial gain.

Netizen reactions. | theqoo

• Crazy.
• Are they the property of the military if they are soldiers?
• Isn’t it banned for soldiers to do anything that has financial gain while they are serving? But the country and such a company made a deal to earn money through their soldiers? Is this even possible?
• They really are trying to leech off them. Good job, HYBE.
• I’m so baffled that the military agreed to this. Does it make sense for a privately owned corporation to make use of the soldiers for profit? I saw the interview and they predicted sales of ₩10.0 billion KRW (about $7.62 million USD). Is that right?
• Huh? What are they doing?
• This is crossing the line, even if it was done by the country.

There is a law in South Korea that prevents soldiers who are serving in the military from working additional jobs or generating profit on the side. Despite this law, the military itself seemed to be profitting off the celebrity soldiers.

Netizen reactions. | theqoo

• They’re thugs.
• Wow, not just their photos were used but they sold unofficial merch? So brazen of them.
• Can’t believe they said “we have nothing to say.” They can just take down all profiteering projects regarding HYBE idols.
• Gasp, they even sold merch.
• What is this?
• Serves you right.
• Wow, they have no conscience.

The Camp is a privately run service that is working together with the military in order to deliver news and information about soldiers to their loved ones.