Mr. Woo-Gyun Kim is a partner at Shin & Kim, providing litigation services and legal advice mainly in the area of IP, broadcasting and telecommunication services, entertainment, metaverse/nft, generative AI, product liability, and trade secrets.

He represented various corporations in major lawsuits and legal disputes relating to IP such as exclusive contracts, performance contracts, investment contracts. He also built a strong reputation in the area of trade secrets, including multiple lawsuits on trade secrets. He was particularly reputed and widely acclaimed in the broadcasting and contents sector following his successful IPR infringement case related to links of broadcasted copyright works.

He is recognized for his expertise in Copyrights, Entertainment, Metaverse and NFT sector, and is widely sought-after for not only legal advisory services, but also lectures and commentaries and other representative activities.

Copyrights

• Dispute over terrestrial/cable TV retransmission fees
• Copyright infringement case involving links
• Represented litigation for copyright infringement of architectural works
• Represented litigation related to webtoon copyright and co-authors
• Advised on webtoon overseas publication contract
• Advised on U.S. copyright infringement lawsuit filed by a US copyright owner against a domestic company
• Represented a plagiarism lawsuit against musical copyright works
• Represented litigation regarding usage fees for music works against KOMCA
• Advised online music service providers on settlement reserve deposits
• Advised on copyright review related to musical performances and MD products
• Represented a lawsuit on the prohibition of use of navigation database
• Advised on character licenses
• Advised on computer program copyright / software sales contract
• Advised on the preparation of copyright guidelines for lecture materials
• Advised on copyright infringement related to golf course design
• Consultation on real-time webcasting copyright issues
• Advised on reviewing copyright law issues of sign language conversion applications for the hearing impaired
• Advised on co-authorship of co-produced audio contents and ways to exercise rights
• Reviewed and advised on how to use the CC0 license and the corresponding copyright works
• Reviewed and advised on copyright agency brokerage and comprehensive agency contracts

Entertainment & Publicity Rights

• Numerous lawsuits and advised on disputes such as exclusive contracts with famous celebrities, YouTubers, creators, and influencers
• Advised on multiple contracts in the entertainment field, including directing contracts, advertising contracts, drama contracts, and appearance contracts
• Advised on performance contracts, investment contracts, sports management contracts, sports event sponsorship contracts, etc., and civil and criminal litigation representation
• Advice and litigation related to e-sports such as ‘League of Legends’
• Various advisory services and litigation counsel in relation to domestic and international copyright contracts for movies and dramas
• Advised on the coverage of employment insurance for artists

Games

• Advised on the legality of P2E games
• Advised on overseas launch of P2E games
• Advised on copyright infringement of game methods and game characters
• Advised on licensing and game industry law regulations related to holding domestic online competitions for iRacing games
• Advised on classification and game industry law violations

Broadcasting & Media

• Represented civil and criminal litigation against numerous copyright infringement cases against web hard and illegal link companies related to the illegal distribution of broadcasting works
• Advised on the Unfair Competition Prevention Act in connection with the selection of broadcasting program titles
• Advised on copyright of election broadcasting videos
• Represented numerous advisory and mediation procedures and litigation by the Media Arbitration Committee in relation to claims of defamation and corrective information

Metaverse / NFT / AI

• Advised on IP issues such as virtual characters (sub-characters) and virtual celebrities
• NFT production service, sales consignment consulting
• Advised on regulatory issues related to NFT sales and economic system introduction within the Metaverse platform
• Advised on reviewing IP issues related to game development through NFT of famous characters
• Advice and litigation on disputes related to the establishment of the metaverse platform
• Advised on BM patent application using NFT
• Advice and litigation on disputes related to NFT competitive minting and whitelist

Trademarks

• Multiple disputes over trademarks, including Benz, Evezary and Iceberry, KBS media and LIG
• Advised on trademark use disputes following the separation of business group affiliates
• Advised on trademark disputes between foreign companies and domestic exclusive sales licensees

Trade Secrets

• Criminal case on infringement of trade secrets of SK Hynix
• Civil and criminal cases related to trade secrets for manufacturing methods of botulinum toxin preparations
• Criminal case of infringement of trade secrets on an online platform selling luxury products
• Advised and litigation on numerous lawsuits related to prohibition of job transfer and confidentiality

Product Liability

• Represented a product liability lawsuit between KT&G and the Health Insurance Corporation
• Represented a lawsuit against alcohol damages between a liquor manufacturer and a consumer
• Represented a product liability lawsuit due to defects in finished cosmetics and raw materials