CJ ENM reportedly filed a lawsuit against LG Uplus over the allegations that it did not pay usage fees when it used the former’s content for its IPTV service.
According to The Korea Herald, CJ ENM’s content unit, which is the CJ Group, confirmed that it has sued LG Uplus, and the civil case was filed at the Seoul Central District Court last week. The South Korean entertainment and mass media company is said to be seeking compensation for the violation of its intellectual property rights for the past 10 years.
The issue between CJ ENM and LG Uplus is said to be hinged on the latter’s fee system that is different from its competitors. Other IPTV service providers such as SKT and KT collect content usage fees based on how many set-top boxes were provided, LG Uplus has been charging flat fees from its subscribers until 2019.
With the fee, its subscribers were able to watch content from CJ ENM, and they can also access these on multiple devices. It was said that the flat fee system cost CJ over ₩10 billion or around $8.4 million. It was added that around 16% of LG Uplus users have more than one set-top box at home.
“From 2009 to March 2019, LG Uplus provided video-on-demand content created by CJ ENM to its subscribers with multiple set-top boxes, without properly paying for it,” a CJ ENM company official stated. “The three telecommunication networks -- KT, SKT, and LG Uplus account for 70 to 80% of the entire IPTV market. This fight is not about the price, but more about sending the industry a warning signal to pay the right price for quality content.”
In response to CJ ENM’s complaints, LG Uplus said that it has complied with its contracts. The company said that there was no term in the deal that stipulates content fees must be paid per device.
Meanwhile, the conflict between the two firms has been going on for months now. In June, CJ ENM also withdrew its content on LG Uplus Mobile TV, the video-streaming service of LG Uplus.
Korea Joongang Daily reported that CJ ENM halted its popular channels, and this means it stops broadcasting 10 of its channels on LG U+’s service. This means that users were blocked from using tvN, Mnet, Tooniverse, and more popular channels.


J.P. Morgan Now Expects Two ECB Rate Hikes Amid Inflation Pressures
EA's $15B Debt Offering Draws $25B in Investor Demand Amid Credit Market Turmoil
Iran War Fears Send Oil Prices Surging as U.S. Weighs Ground Troop Deployment
Tesla Eyes $2.9 Billion in Chinese Solar Equipment to Power 100 GW U.S. Manufacturing Push
Apple Defies China's Smartphone Slump with Strong Early 2026 Sales
Elliott Investment Management Takes Multibillion-Dollar Stake in Synopsys
Gold Prices Extend Losing Streak, On Track for Worst Weekly Loss Since 1983
GE Vernova and Hitachi's $40 Billion SMR Investment Signals a New Era for U.S. Nuclear Energy
Asian Markets Mixed as Oil Volatility and Inflation Fears Weigh on Sentiment
FEMSA Cuts Jobs at Spin Fintech Unit, Refocuses Strategy on Oxxo Stores
Oil Prices Hold Steady Amid Middle East Escalation and Sanctions Relief
South Korean Stocks Tumble as Hawkish BOK Governor Appointment Rattles Markets
Federal Reserve Crisis: DOJ Standoff Threatens Powell's Succession and Rate Stability
Palantir's Maven AI Earns Pentagon "Program of Record" Status, Reshaping Military AI Strategy
Tesla FSD EU Approval Delayed to April 10 as RDW Completes Final Review
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Iran Conflict and Inflation Fears Rattle Wall Street
SLMG Beverages Eyes Price Hikes Amid Rising Packaging Costs and India's Booming Soft Drink Market 



