On August 12, officials from the Seoul Mapo Police Station confirmed that the probe stems from a complaint filed last November by composer A.
The composer alleges that YG Entertainment reproduced one of his works without permission, incorporating it into an album and distributing it — an act he claims constitutes copyright infringement.
According to TV Report, the song “G-DRAGON“ that he created was taken by YG Entertainment and G-Dragon and changed to “My Age is 13” which ended up on G-Dragon’s live album Shine a Light under the song “My Age Is 13 + Storm + Hip Hop Gentlemen + G-Dragon”.
The original “G-DRAGON” appeared on the compilation album 2001 Korea Hip-Hop Flex, credited to composer A for both composition and arrangement. At the time, G-Dragon—then only 13 years old—performed the song with lyrics like “At thirteen, I’m too young for this world / Wanna dive into my rhymes with me?” and “It’s kind of funny that I’m rapping at thirteen / I pray every day.”
Investigators have already questioned several individuals connected to the case. Authorities have also executed two separate raids, including searches of YG Entertainment’s headquarters, to gather evidence.
The police have not disclosed further details regarding the song in question or the potential timeline for concluding the investigation. YG Entertainment responded by stating that “the confusion arose during preparations for G-Dragon’s 2009 solo concert because two songs had the same title. There was no unauthorized reproduction of the audio track.”
G-Dragon’s side has not released a separate statement, as he is currently in the middle of an Asia-wide solo tour, which began in March in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province—his first solo concert series in eight years. The shows have been selling out with additional dates added, highlighting his ongoing popularity.
Online reactions to the recent copyright infringement lawsuit against G-Dragon have been swift and skeptical, with many fans questioning the motives behind the case. Commenters pointed out that the dispute centers on a song G-Dragon first recorded at the age of 13 in 2001, which he briefly revisited during a 2009 concert. Given that the track was never registered with the Copyright Association and was part of a live medley, netizens are calling the timing of the lawsuit — filed more than a decade later — suspicious and opportunistic.
- Before his debut, G-Dragon participated in the song back in 2001 when he was 13, and now they’re suing over him singing just a few lines of it at a live concert in 2009? A song from 2001 that wasn’t even registered with the Copyright Association — suing over it now just screams that the real motive is money. Pathetic.
- [Fact] That concert recording was a live album, so it wouldn’t have been registered with the Copyright Association. It was an opening stage that mixed three songs — My Age is 13, Storm, and Gentleman — so that’s what was credited in the audio.
- So 24 years ago, G-Dragon was 13 when My Age is 13 was released. In 2009, during a concert, he performed a live version combining it with two other songs as a nostalgic throwback — and now, in November last year, they’re suing over it? That live recording wasn’t separately registered with the Copyright Association, so there was no copyright revenue generated. If they had any stake in that track, they should have settled it with the company directly. Doesn’t it seem obvious to anyone else that filing this lawsuit right after his successful comeback last year is way too calculated?
If confirmed, the case could mark a significant legal challenge for one of K-pop’s most high-profile artists and one of its most influential producers.
Sources: nate, TV Report
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