Musicbusinessworldwide.com
HYBE is stepping up its fight against counterfeit merchandise as BTS prepares to bring its BTS WORLD TOUR ARIRANG to MetLife Stadium next month.
The entertainment company, alongside BIGHIT MUSIC and HYBE America, has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey seeking legal authority to crack down on unauthorized vendors selling fake BTS merchandise during the group’s August 1 and 2 performances in East Rutherford.
Rather than naming specific defendants, the complaint targets unidentified bootleggers, listed as John Does, Jane Does and XYZ Companies, whose identities have yet to be determined. The filing asks the court to authorize law enforcement and company representatives to seize counterfeit products sold before, during and after the concerts, both around MetLife Stadium and at future U.S. tour stops.
According to the lawsuit, the unauthorized products closely resemble official tour merchandise and could mislead fans into believing they are purchasing licensed items. HYBE also argues that the counterfeit goods fail to meet the quality standards associated with BTS’ official merchandise, potentially harming both the group’s reputation and the value of its brand.
The legal action continues a strategy the company has employed on previous tours. HYBE filed a nearly identical lawsuit ahead of the tour’s opening dates in Florida earlier this year and previously secured similar court orders during BTS tours in 2019 and 2021, including merchandise seizures at MetLife Stadium.
The complaint alleges violations of federal trademark law, unfair competition statutes and publicity rights under New Jersey law. It also argues that unauthorized sellers profit from BTS’ popularity without paying licensing fees or royalties tied to official merchandise.
HYBE has increasingly invested in anti-counterfeiting efforts both online and at live events. In its latest sustainability report, the company revealed it worked with Amazon to remove more than 92,000 counterfeit listings over four months in 2025 while confiscating more than 19,000 fake products through in-person enforcement operations, including at a j-hope solo concert.
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