The long-running legal battle over “Baby Shark” has officially ended, with South Korea’s Supreme Court dismissing composer Johnny Only’s plagiarism claim against The Pinkfong Company.
On August 14, the court rejected Johnny Only’s appeal for damages, confirming the lower court’s ruling that Pinkfong’s Baby Shark song did not infringe on Only’s 2011 children’s song.
Johnny Only had argued that his song, which gave a unique rhythm to a traditional folk tune, was a secondary original work and that Pinkfong’s version copied it. He first filed the lawsuit in 2019, but all levels of the judiciary, including the first, second, and now Supreme Court, ruled against him.
In an exclusive interview, Only’s Korean legal representative, attorney Jung Kyung-seok of Law Firm Liu, reflected on the case. “The outcome is disappointing. We had hoped for a reversal after more than two years of deliberation in the Supreme Court, but the appeal was dismissed,” he said.
Jung Kyung-seok also noted the complexity of the case, which spanned six years from first to third trial. “The case was exceptionally difficult due to the legal intricacies of musical copyright and the unique nature of a dispute between an American composer and a major Korean company,” he explained.
Johnny Only reportedly had mixed feelings ahead of the Supreme Court decision. Jung Kyung-seok shared, “He was hopeful the ruling might be overturned but also anxious it would be confirmed. When he received the final result, his reaction was simply gratitude for being informed.”
Despite the loss, Jung Kyung-seok emphasized the case’s significance. “Many plagiarism disputes end without legal resolution. Even though it was a difficult fight, taking the matter to court sets a precedent and contributes to the standards for future copyright judgments in music,” he said.
The ruling confirms that Pinkfong’s “Baby Shark” is not considered plagiarism, closing a chapter on one of the most high-profile music copyright disputes in recent Korean entertainment history.
Sources: 다음 – 엑스포츠뉴스
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