Expertise

[Media Reporting Disputes and Crisis Management]
Lee & Ko's Media and New Media Practice provides prompt and structured responses to legal disputes arising from broadcasters, daily newspapers, online media, and other traditional and digital outlets. In media reporting disputes, the timing of the initial response has a decisive impact on subsequent litigation strategy and the scale of damages. We handle the full process — from press arbitration proceedings to court litigation — on a one-stop basis, and we bring extensive experience in crisis management advisory for corporate and public-figure clients.

• Corrections, rights of reply, and follow-up reporting claims before the Press Arbitration Commission, and related defense matters
• Representation in civil and criminal proceedings arising from media reporting, including defamation and privacy violations
• Crisis management and response strategy for corporate and public-figure clients in media reporting matters
• Take-down and interim measures requests against posts on internet portals and SNS platforms

[MCN and Creator Contract Disputes and Revenue Settlement]
Exclusive agreement disputes involving MCNs and creators differ fundamentally from traditional entertainment contract disputes in their contractual structure, revenue settlement mechanisms, and platform-linked provisions. Drawing on a deep understanding of MCN business models, our team analyzes legal issues from the perspective of MCNs and creators — from contract design through dispute resolution — and delivers strategies tailored to that perspective.

• Review of MCN exclusive agreements, identification and removal of unfair provisions, and design of standard form contracts
• Litigation for liquidated damages and contractual penalties arising from termination or breach of exclusive agreements
• Disputes over unpaid revenue settlements and disputed settlement statements
• Preliminary injunction applications and related responses in creator departure and contract disputes

[Content IP Protection and Platform Disputes]
Digital content is the core asset of creators and MCNs. Our team provides both defensive and offensive legal services to preserve content assets — from content copyright infringement claims and channel ownership disputes, to legal challenges against unilateral account suspensions imposed by platforms. Our lawyers, who understand the platform ecosystem and its evolving policies, develop response strategies that are practical and effective.

• YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok account suspension matters and channel ownership disputes
• Civil and criminal response to content copyright infringement
• Advisory on music rights revenue distribution and platform revenue allocation
• Review of, and dispute response under, live commerce, advertising, and sponsorship agreements

[Crisis Management and Criminal Defense]
In matters involving defamation, cybercrime, and criminal complaints against creators and public figures, the initial "golden hours" of response determine the outcome. Our team works alongside clients from the moment a matter arises through every stage of investigation and trial, providing media-exposure crisis management and criminal defense in an integrated manner.

• Criminal complaints and damages claims for defamation, cyber-stalking, and dissemination of false information
• Defense in criminal complaints and during the investigative stage
• Crisis management and criminal defense for affiliated creators in matters involving public controversy

[Corporate Formation and Business Advisory]
For creators establishing independence from their MCNs or scaling their businesses, and for MCNs restructuring their operations, we provide legal services tailored to each stage of business growth — from corporate formation and contract framework design to regulatory compliance. In coordination with Lee & Ko specialists in tax, antitrust, and ICT, we deliver one-stop solutions to complex, cross-disciplinary business issues.

• Corporate formation, articles of incorporation, and governance advisory for MCNs and creator-led entities
• Standardization and review of commerce, advertising, and sponsorship agreements
• Advisory on antitrust and media regulatory compliance