Copy-Catting In Korea

Several pop singers used unauthorized material in their performances on two different year-end TV music programs, according to Korean media.

U-Know Yunho of the popular boy band DBSK and solo superstar Rain used the Justin Timberlake song “Magic” as background tracks during broadcasted performances.

Another singer, Taemin, used Usher’s “Dat Girl Right There” for his segment.

Neither the artists nor their management received permission to use the songs, whose rights are held by Sony BMG.

What’s especially notable about the unauthorized usage is that neither song has been officially released through any channels. Sony BMG has expressed confusion as to how the three artists even had access to the tracks except through illegal methods.

“Magic” apparently was unlawfully uploaded onto the Internet sometime last October.

Management for both DBSK and Taemin apologized without stating how they obtained the tracks. Rain’s management company, J. Tunes, insisted that it did not use the Timberlake song illegally “on purpose.”

All three artists have been involved in campaigns that call on fans to stop downloading music illegally.