IVE vs. IVE: Starship Entertainment “Bullies” Small Business With Copyright

The backlash is intense.

On October 1, 2025 (KST), Mr. Park Ki Dong—who owns a small leather goods studio in  Seoul—exposed Starship Entertainment for filing a petition with the Intellectual Property Office asking for the cancellation of his trademark registrations.

Mr. Park Ki Dong’s leather goods studio. | @ive_1972/Instagram

In his flabbergasted post, Park wrote that the K-Pop powerhouse wanted him to give up his English and brand name, Ive, which he has had since 2019, for the girl group IVE, who debuted in 2021.

A copy of the document Park was served by Starship Entertainment. | @yosm_ive/Instagram

“#IVE(2019) vs IVE(2021)

Starship Entertainment filed a petition with the Intellectual Property Office, requesting the cancellation of my trademark registrations for ‘IVE Leather Goods,’ which I had registered under my English name prior to IVE’s debut, claiming they wished for them to be canceled. Sigh…

My brand, IVE Leather Goods, was registered across four product categories in 2019, while the group IVE debuted in 2021. The English name ‘Ive’ was given to me by my English mentor when I was young, and I’ve been using Ive as my English name on all my social media accounts since before the group’s debut. I have been a registered business owner since 2015, and I completed all my trademark registrations in 2019. In fact, when you look up ‘IVE Leather Goods,’ all the information comes up. I even have records of collaborations with public institutions and exhibitions—so why would they file a petition like this…?

I’m simply carrying on the spirit of the workshop my parents had been running, and even though I’ve paused the business for now, I still need to keep protecting the brand. I honestly don’t know what’s going on, it feels unfair and absurd… Is this really right?”

— Park Ki Dong

The post went mega-viral, with Starship Entertainment being slammed for “bullying” a small business owner.

Starship Entertainment’s girl group IVE | @M2MPD/X

| theqoo

• “If Starship is going as far as filing for a non-use cancellation trial, it seems like they’re trying to secure the trademark in that product category. I just feel like it would’ve been better if they had first tried methods like contacting the owner for a transfer or getting coexistence consent…”
• “I mean, if the original trademark owner didn’t object, couldn’t they have just used it together? Why is Starship throwing a fit like only they can use it when they came later?”
• “Before taking it to court, Starship should’ve at least tried to negotiate. This is exactly why small business owners get crushed.”
• “Even if they file, it won’t get canceled, right? The Intellectual Property Office always prioritizes whoever registered first.”
• “F*cking bullies.”
• “Like, all jokes aside, why is the copycat making the fuss?”
• “The original owner registered it years earlier, this just isn’t right.”

| theqoo

• “Ridiculous.”
• “Wow.”
• “The original trademark holder must be so frustrated.”
• “I mean, by trademark logic, shouldn’t the girl group’s name be the one canceled instead?”
• “This is absurd.”
• “If anything, IVE should be the one to change their group name instead.”

After an online comment hinted that Starship Entertainment might be coming after the trademark using a loophole in the rules…

| @yosm_ive/Threads

Comment: Actually, in Korea, if you don’t use a trademark for more than 3 years, someone can file for a non-use cancellation trial. I think that’s probably what this is about… You’ll need verifiable evidence of continued use! Please try consulting with a lawyer.

Park: Yes, that’s why I’m getting legal advice now. I mean, I do have records of activities within the past 3 years on Instagram, and I was also selected for a startup support program during that period. So I’m planning to actively fight this.

…Park has since deleted the original post and, in a new one, reiterated that he’ll continue fighting against the company.

I sincerely thank everyone who has given me advice regarding the current trademark cancellation trial between IVE and IVE Leather Goods. I will be seeking legal counsel on the matter and work on resolving it step by step. I apologize that I cannot personally thank each of you who shared valuable insights based on your own experiences, but I am truly grateful.

Also, it is not true that I have not maintained business through the trademark for the past three years. I have continuously operated the business, though I moved my workshop and studio facilities and have been focusing on personal projects and custom orders. Just because I haven’t posted on Instagram doesn’t mean the business has stopped. Until recently, I have also been carrying out crowdfunding and product development. With a revised business model, I am currently focusing only on B2B and B2G projects, which is why activity directed at B2C (general consumers) has been reduced.

In any case, I take the advice that if I can provide sufficient evidence of these activities, the issue can be resolved, and that I should approach it calmly and steadily. I will do my very best to handle this properly. Thank you.

— Park Ki Dong

Starship Entertainment has not responded to the growing backlash online.

Read more:

Starship Entertainment Receives Brutal Pushback Over IVE’s Comeback Quality