JTBC 'A Clean Sweep' vs Studio C1 'Fireball Baseball'

JTBC Files Criminal Complaint for IP Infringement and Breach of Trust

JTBC has filed a criminal complaint against production company Studio C1 and PD Jang Si-won, alleging unauthorized use of the intellectual property (IP) of its program 'A Clean Sweep' (Choegang Yagu). JTBC claimed that 'Fireball Baseball' (Bulkkot Yagu), produced by Studio C1, borrowed a similar format to seasons 1–3 of 'A Clean Sweep,' and that they produced 'Kim Sung-keun's Winter Vacation'—a spin-off—and provided it to other OTT platforms without separate approval. Additionally, the complaint includes charges of professional breach of trust, alleging that PD Jang Si-won sought personal gain by setting director compensation without a resolution from the general shareholders' meeting, as well as charges of destruction of electronic records and obstruction of business for deleting server files after the production contract ended.

Court Orders Ban on Production and Distribution of 'Fireball Baseball'

The 60th Civil Division of the Seoul Central District Court granted the injunction filed by JTBC against Studio C1 to prohibit copyright infringement and unfair competition. The court ruled that 'Fireball Baseball' constitutes an act of unfair competition by unauthorizedly using the achievements of others by utilizing the cast, narrative, and components of 'A Clean Sweep.' Accordingly, the production, sale, distribution, and transmission of 'Fireball Baseball' have been prohibited, and the production of video content using the name 'Fireball Baseball' or featuring the 'Fireball Fighters' squad has also been banned. Studio C1 has decided to appeal this decision.

Studio C1 Rebuts: "Content Composition and Team are Not the Property of a Specific Individual"

Studio C1 directly refuted JTBC's claims. A representative from Studio C1 emphasized that 'Fireball Baseball' is an independent project planned after the conclusion of 'A Clean Sweep' Season 3 and the termination of the contract. They stated, "The name, composition, and concept of 'A Clean Sweep' are not the property of a specific broadcaster or individual, nor is the team consisting of the manager and players the property of any specific person."

The Strength of 'Fireball Fighters' Facing Yeoncheon Miracle}

Despite the legal dispute, the 'Fireball Fighters' continue their upward momentum, recording 10 wins and 0 losses this season. The team will face the Yeoncheon Miracle, the strongest independent baseball team, through the SBS Plus 'Special Baseball Live Broadcast.' This match is also drawing attention as a tactical battle between managers Kim Sung-keun and Kim In-sik, with former teammate Moon Kyo-won appearing on the opposing team. The opposing team, Yeoncheon Miracle, is a team that achieved a 'wire-to-wire' championship, recording 28 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses (winning percentage of 0.875) in the 2025 Independent Baseball Gyeonggi League.