Home / Arts and Entertainment / HYBE Sues Over Fake BTS Merch in U.S.
HYBE Sues Over Fake BTS Merch in U.S.
13 Jul
Summary
- HYBE filed suit to stop fake BTS merchandise sales.
- Lawsuit seeks to seize counterfeit goods at U.S. tour stops.
- This is a common strategy to combat concert bootleggers.
HYBE, the agency behind BTS, has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the sale of counterfeit merchandise during the group's ARIRANG world tour across the U.S. The legal action, initiated on July 10, 2026, aims to secure a nationwide injunction that would permit the seizure of bootleg items. Sellers of unauthorized merchandise have reportedly been active around U.S. stadiums since the tour commenced in April 2026.
The lawsuit alleges that counterfeit sellers are offering items with a similar appearance to official BTS products but of inferior quality. This practice is seen as detrimental to HYBE's controlled merchandising program, which includes online, pop-up, and in-venue sales. If granted, the injunction would empower HYBE to seize and destroy fake merchandise at all remaining U.S. tour locations.
This legal strategy is a common approach to combatting counterfeit sales at concerts. Similar actions have been taken by or on behalf of artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Beyoncé. HYBE's case is notable as it directly owns the rights to the BTS name and visuals, having previously secured injunctions against unlicensed sellers in 2019 and 2021. The ARIRANG tour, which began in April 2026, has already generated significant revenue, topping charts and setting records.
The ARIRANG world tour is a major global event, having started in South Korea on April 9, 2026. It is scheduled to continue until 2027, with extensive dates planned across multiple continents. The tour has already demonstrated substantial commercial success, grossing $204 million in its first two months and breaking records for monthly group earnings on the Billboard Boxscore chart.
