SM Entertainment has been entangled with plagiarism allegations involving their fan exhibit, "NCT HOME." They have responded to these claims in an official statement.

Here's what happened.

SM Entertainment Opens Up Exclusive Exhibit 'NCT HOME' For NCTzens

On February 8, SM Entertainment took off the veil on its interactive exhibit, "NCT HOME," where fans can indulge inside to intermingle with the site's activities.

"NCT HOME" has availed its entry until March 26, giving fans lots of time to explore the place. While there were many fans who anticipated going on the exhibit, some drew mixed reactions on the place, stating how many of the site's interactive posters were "unsettling."

On the interactive posters, fans are granted permission to control NCT members' facial expressions and their movements by tapping certain areas. These acts were met with negative reactions from other netizens, who believed the posters felt objectifying.

See their reactions below:

Is 'NCT HOME' Plagiarized by SM Entertainment? Here's What We Know

Meanwhile, some people were also impressed with the technology despite bringing a decent amount of criticism. The interactive posters, which imbued the Gesture Interactive Video (GIV) became the main highlight of the exhibit.

However, the GIV technology used for these posters were allegedly plagiarized from Momenti, an American start-up company and platform which focuses on interactive content.

According to JTBC, Momenti is also associated with Backslash, the individual seller of GIV technology in Korea. Backslash is also the patent owner of this specific technology.

The heat also reached out to LiveConnect, the company responsible for hosting "NCT HOME." Reports stated LiveConnect and Backslash discussed an agreement to utilize GIV technology for the exhibit. Afterwards, the collaboration came to an end when LiveConnect failed to respond to Backslash about the technology's usage.

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Eight months since their last meeting, the exhibit's use of GIV technology alarmed Backslash, since LiveConnect has not reached out for an agreement.

Backslash then sent a letter to LiveConnect, containing a patent infringement warning. It also brought up how the exhibition content has been altered with a version without its interactive tech.

How Did SM Entertainment Respond To The Allegations?

SM then replied with a formal letter, explaining how they gave LiveConnect full authority over the exhibition's preparation and implementation.

They also acknowledged the claims of suspected plagiarism and requested a fact-check to clear out doubts. SM also assured that necessary steps to resolve the issue at hand.

Read their full statement below:

"We received a formal document from the company's legal representative that raised plagiarism suspicions, and forwarded it to the exhibition planning company with a request for them to fact-check, as well as respond to the accusations."

"We gave the exhibition company, LiveConnect, complete control over the organizing and operation of "NCT HOME."

"The firm in charge of organizing is currently in direct contact with the one who raised the suspicion. The associated content has been temporarily removed from the exhibition and replaced with different materials."

"We are overseeing arbitration and a review of infringement rights to promptly settle the conflict between the two companies."

What's your take on this matter?

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Written by Israel Monte