Legal dispute stops Rain tour

South Korean superstar Rain has postponed this month’s performances in the U.S., which were scheduled to start Friday in Hawaii, because of a legal challenge over the singer’s right to use his stage name.

A Reno-based record company, Rain Corp., in February sued Rain, his former agency JYP Entertainment Ltd. and concert organizer Star M Entertainment, alleging Rain cannot use the name in the United States because it holds the copyright for the name of a Beatles tribute band.

Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-hoon, was scheduled to perform in Honolulu, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles, but organizers say the dates have been postponed pending the court’s decision. Rain’s smooth dance moves have earned him the nickname the “Justin Timberlake of Asia.”