Media Company CJ E&M Withdraws From KeSPA After Dispute Over Trademark

Media company CJ E&M will withdraw from the Korea e-Sports Association after 13 years "over a dispute with the association" regarding the trademark rights of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK), according to Angelos Anastasopoulos of THE ESPORTS OBSERVER. The relationship between the two sides has "deteriorated over the past two years." Since acquiring a majority stake in video gaming TV channel OGN in '10, CJ E&M has been "constantly involved with esports and KeSPA." In '06, the group became a title sponsor for team ProSuma, renaming it CJ Entus. Since '12, the team has competed in LoL, "but just over a month ago its roster was disbanded," foreshadowing CJ E&M’s decision to "break its ties with KeSPA." CJ E&M "has been in a continuous dispute" with Riot Games Korea since "both were claiming the rights to LCK’s trademark" (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 12/27).

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