HYBE Sues to Stop BTS Bootleg Merch Sellers at U.S. Stadiums During ‘ARIRANG’ World Tour
HYBE, the South Korean label behind BTS, has filed a US lawsuit seeking a nationwide injunction to stop the sale of counterfeit merchandise outside stadiums hosting the band's "ARIRANG" world tour. The complaint, lodged in New Jersey federal court on 10 July, argues that bootleg sellers have already targeted several tour stops and would continue to do so at forthcoming shows without court intervention, undermining HYBE's official merchandising operations.
The lawsuit alleges bootleggers have sold fake t-shirts, posters and other items resembling official products but of inferior quality at stadiums in Tampa, El Paso, Stanford and Las Vegas since the tour began in April. BTS returns to the US on 1 August at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with further dates including Chicago and Los Angeles, and an injunction would let HYBE seize and destroy counterfeit goods at these venues. Such legal action is common practice among major touring artists, and HYBE previously won similar injunctions in 2019 and 2021; the ARIRANG tour itself has already grossed a combined $204 million in April and May, setting a monthly record for a group act.
In short
- HYBE sues to stop fake BTS merchandise sales at US tour stops
- Injunction sought would allow seizure of counterfeit goods nationwide
- ARIRANG tour has grossed $204 million so far in 2026
Explained simply
BTS is one of the world's biggest music groups, managed by South Korean entertainment company HYBE. The company generates significant revenue from sales of official merchandise—such as t-shirts, posters and other branded items—at concert venues and online.
Counterfeit merchandise is a persistent problem for touring artists. Unauthorised sellers gather outside stadium venues selling fake versions of official products, which are usually lower quality and generate no income for the band or label. BTS's ARIRANG world tour, which began in April, has already been targeted by such sellers at multiple US stadium stops.
To prevent the sale of counterfeit merchandise, labels and touring acts routinely seek court orders allowing authorities to seize and destroy fake goods at venues. HYBE has used this approach successfully before. The financial stakes are significant, as merchandise sales are a major revenue stream for major touring acts, often generating millions during a successful world tour.
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