BTS music label warns of crackdown on fake merch

Big Hit Entertainment, the label behind K-Pop supergroup BTS, has said it will crack down on companies that are infringing the band's portrait and trademark rights in collaboration with the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

The label says it will go after organisations that have been repeatedly producing, selling, and distributing products that use BTS' portraits and trademark without permission.

"To protect the rights of our artists, we will conduct on-site inspection and investigation of counterfeit products, in conjunction with the Korean Intellectual Property Office at and around the venue of the BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – Seoul concert, to be held at the Seoul Jamsil Olympic Stadium on March 10, 12, and 13," it said in a statement.

"We ask all fans who are planning to visit the concert to ensure that you are not adversely affected in any way by purchasing any of the above related products. Big Hit Music is dedicated as always, to protect the portrait and trademark rights of our artists."

The Seoul gigs will be the first time BTS has appeared before a live crowd in Korea in approximately two and a half years, and the event will be livestreamed to fans who are based overseas.

Ahead of the last world tour for the band in 2019, Big Hit pre-emptively filed a lawsuit in California to prevent "bootleggers and counterfeiters" from selling knock-off merchandise around the Rose Bowl Stadium dates in Pasadena as well as other US venues during the tour.