Starship Entertainment has officially withdrawn its request for a trademark cancellation trial involving IVE.

On October 2, the agency announced, "We confirmed that our legal representative proceeded independently without prior consultation with us. Upon recognizing this, we immediately reviewed the procedure's validity and promptly withdrew the filing. We deeply regret the confusion caused."

Starship further clarified its stance: "Protecting our artists' rights is important, but we also respect the efforts and rights of those who have operated their businesses faithfully over the years. We will strengthen internal oversight to prevent similar incidents and do our best to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

The issue began when the owner of a leather workshop brand, Ive Leather Goods, revealed on September 30 via personal channels that Starship had filed for a trademark cancellation against his brand name. He explained, "My trademark Ive Leather Goods was registered across four product categories back in 2019. IVE debuted in 2021. Even if I am not actively operating now, I need to protect my brand."

Under Korean trademark law, if a registered trademark is not used for over three years, another party with a legitimate interest may request its cancellation. It appears Starship's representative mistakenly believed the workshop had ceased operations.

Meanwhile, IVE is preparing for their second world tour SHOW WHAT I AM, set to kick off with three concerts at Seoul's KSPO Dome from October 31 to November 2.