Plagiarism Scandal Rocks Entertainment Industry: He Qiushi's Apology Sparks Debate on Intellectual Property Protection

The incident came to light when net users noticed the similarities, leading to public pressure on He Qiushi's team to respond. Initially, they remained silent, but on June 2, 2025, He Qiushi's studio issued a public apology, acknowledging mistakes in their work and explaining that the concert involved multiple teams due to time constraints. The studio revealed that the relevant designs were outsourced to third parties and expressed sincere apologies to Wang Sulong and his team, promising to reflect and improve their work processes. However, the apology was criticized for attempting to shift blame to a "third party" provider, which many saw as avoiding full responsibility.

The public reaction to He Qiushi's apology has been largely negative, with previous supporters expressing disappointment and many viewing the incident as a serious breach of creative ethics. The quick apology from He Qiushi's studio shows they recognized the severity of the situation, but the response has been seen as insufficient by many netizens. The incident has sparked broader discussions about intellectual property rights and the professionalism of internet celebrities when they cross over into more traditional entertainment spheres.

The key figures involved in the incident include He Qiushi, the main subject of the controversy, and Wang Sulong, the original artist whose work was allegedly copied. Other artists, such as Zhang Hao, Liu Yaowen, Song Yaxuan, and Huang Yubo, also had their elements allegedly copied. The incident has also implicated third-party teams, including the costume and styling team who issued their own apology, and multiple production teams who were blamed in He Qiushi's studio statement for the rushed implementation and lack of proper research.

The incident has significant implications for the entertainment industry, highlighting the need for increased awareness of intellectual property protection, particularly in the age of rapid rise of internet celebrities. It exposes the lack of professionalism in the industry, especially in terms of production teams and auditing processes. The incident also underscores the importance of fan culture management and the need for a more rational and respectful online environment. Furthermore, it is likely to have a negative impact on He Qiushi's commercial reputation and brand image, emphasizing the need for stricter copyright reviews and quality control in commercial activities.

Ultimately, the incident may drive the entertainment industry to place greater value on intellectual property protection, prompting netizens and artists to increase their professional standards and emphasize original content creation. It may also lead to improvements in relevant laws and regulations, as well as their enforcement, to prevent similar incidents in the future. As of the latest updates, Wang Sulong and his team have not publicly responded to the apology, leaving the situation ongoing and subject to further development.