Agency says the hit song is an independent creation and vows to respond through legal process
Big Hit Music, Hybe’s music subsidiary and the agency behind global K-pop sensation BTS, on Friday vehemently denied allegations that the group’s chart-topping hit “Swim” infringed on the copyright of a song created by three US songwriters.
“‘Swim’ is an independent creation,” the agency affirmed in a statement shared with The Korea Herald. “The allegations presented in the lawsuit are unilateral and entirely unsubstantiated. We are prepared to respond firmly and decisively through the appropriate legal process to defend our position.”
This strong denial comes in the wake of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed on Wednesday by US songwriters Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler, and Greylyn Johnson. The complaint, lodged in the US District Court for the Central District of California, asserts that BTS’ “Swim” allegedly copied substantial and recognizable elements from a demo track of the same title, created by the plaintiffs.
The song “Swim” was prominently featured as the main single from BTS’ latest album, “Arirang,” further amplifying its global reach and popularity.
Reports from a US media outlet on Thursday detailed that the lawsuit names Hybe, Hybe America, Big Hit Music, and several co-writers of the song, including Derrick Milano, James Essien, and Ryan Tedder, as defendants. Significantly, the lawsuit does not name any BTS members, nor does it include RM or producer Pdogg, both of whom contributed to the writing of the track.
According to the filed complaint, the three US songwriters initiated work on their version of “Swim” in early 2025, completing a demo by March of that year. The plaintiffs allege that this recording was subsequently shared with numerous music industry contacts, including executives at Artist Publishing Group via the music-sharing platform Disco, suggesting a potential pathway through which it might have ultimately reached the songwriters involved in creating BTS’ “Swim.”
Further bolstering their claims, the plaintiffs commissioned musicologist Alexander Stewart to conduct a comparative analysis of the two songs. As detailed in the complaint, Stewart reportedly identified significant similarities across various musical elements, including the title hook, harmony, texture, rhythm, and lyrical content. Based on this analysis, Stewart concluded that BTS’ “Swim” was not an original composition, supporting the plaintiffs’ infringement claims.
The three US songwriters are seeking a comprehensive range of relief from the court. This includes an injunction to prohibit any further exploitation of “Swim,” substantial damages, and the disgorgement of profits generated from the song. As an alternative resolution, they have petitioned the court to officially recognize them as co-writers of the hit song and to award them a rightful share of its copyright royalties.
jaaykim
