The legal battle between one of Korea's largest entertainment agencies and an estranged employee began in earnest on YouTube.

On July 23, the teaser video announcing the solo debut of Z.Tao (Huang Zi Tao, often known as Tao,) was removed from YouTube. Tao is a Chinese entertainer who debuted in 2012 as a member of SM Entertainment's K-pop group EXO and its subgroup EXO-M. Earlier this year, Tao left EXO due to health reasons and the urging of his family, and announced his solo career earlier this month.

Shortly after the teaser video was uploaded to YouTube, it was removed due to "a copyright claim by SM Entertainment."

Before the news of Tao's debut as a soloist under the name Z.Tao, SM Entertainment, EXO's agency, stated that the two sides were in talks regarding Tao's departure from EXO.

This is the third legal battle between SM Entertainment and a Chinese member of EXO. Tao is the third EXO-M member to take an absence from EXO, following the 2014 departures of Kris (Wu Yi Fan) and Luhan. Both idols left Korea to focus on solo careers in China, focusing on acting. Tao is the first estranged member of EXO to pursue a career as a solo singer.

As a member of EXO, Tao was last featured on the album "EXODUS" and in the music videos for the song, "Call Me Baby."

Tao kicked off his solo career as Z.Tao on July 23 with the release of his digital mini album, which features the songs "One Heart," "T.A.O" and "Yesterday."

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