NewJeans has taken down traces of their previously self-proclaimed group name 'NJZ', amid an ongoing legal dispute with their label, ADOR.

🧹 From 'NJZ' to 'mhdhh_friends'

On April 4, the group renamed their controversial SNS account from @njz_official to @mhdhh_friends, a name derived from the members' initials—Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein.

All prior posts were also deleted. Their parents' account, previously known as @njz_pr, was similarly rebranded using the members' initials, with all past content removed and replaced by a statement from the parents.

These updates appear to be a direct response to a recent court ruling that banned independent promotions under the NJZ name.

⚖️ Legal Action Favors ADOR

On March 21, the Seoul Central District Court sided with ADOR, granting an injunction that restricts NewJeans from engaging in any independent activities outside of the company's oversight.

The court ruled that launching new social media accounts and pursuing independent branding or contracts violated the group's exclusive contract with the agency.

📝 NJZ Trademark Still Pending

Despite the name change, the 'NJZ' trademark remains pending. According to KIPRIS (Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service), a trademark for NJZ was filed on February 6 across ten product categories.

As of April 5, the application is still awaiting examination. While it has been officially filed and accepted, no examiner has been assigned yet.

🎤 Independent Activities on Hold—for Now

NewJeans first signaled independent promotions earlier this year by launching new accounts under the 'NJZ' name and announcing plans to perform at ComplexCon Hong Kong—a move ADOR labeled as unauthorized.

The court injunction prohibits the group from signing ad deals, songwriting, or performing under any branding outside of ADOR's jurisdiction.

NewJeans has since filed an appeal, and the next court hearing is scheduled for April 9 at 2 PM (KST).