Fight For The Right To Gangnam Style

It had to happen. With the worldwide popularity of rapper Psy’s “Gangnam Style” video, nine companies are now battling it out for the commercial rights to the phrase, according to the Korean Times.

The name refers to a well-to-do district of Seoul, and so far a number of petitioners have filed claims with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, including restaurants, manufacturers, a shoemaker, a mountaineering company, a software developer and an office automation firm.

YG Entertaintment, Psy’s management company, has the right to use the phrase in conjunction with the rapper’s image, but that’s about as far as its rights go.

If some other company wins its claim, then YG and Psy may not be able to cash in on any related use of the phrase.

Earlier this month Psy signed a management deal outside of Korea with Scooter Braun, the manager of Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen.

Psy will reportedly be recording for Braun’s record label, Schoolboy, which is released through Interscope.

Daily Pulse