BTS‘ global hit song “SWIM” has become the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by American songwriters, who claim the track copied elements of their own demo. In response, BTS’ agency, BigHit Music, firmly rejected the allegations, describing the song as an independent original work.
On July 10, BigHit Music told News1 that the lawsuit represents only the plaintiffs’ unilateral claims. The agency stated, “We clearly maintain that SWIM is an independently created work,” adding that it intends to respond aggressively through the legal process.
The controversy emerged after Billboard reported on July 9 (local time) that American songwriters Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson had filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in a U.S. court on July 8. They allege that BTS’ SWIM bears substantial similarities to a demo song of the same title that they previously created.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs named HYBE, HYBE America, BigHit Music, and Ryan Tedder OneRepublic frontman and one of the songwriters credited on SWIM as defendants. However, BTS leader RM, who is also listed among the song’s writers, was not included in the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs claim they began circulating their demo to publishers and music industry professionals in March of last year, arguing that the song was shared with some of the composers who later worked on BTS’ SWIM.
Musicologist Alexander Stewart, who was commissioned by the plaintiffs to analyze the songs, argued that the similarities extend beyond the title. According to Stewart, the hook, harmonic progression, texture, rhythm, and even lyrical elements resemble the plaintiffs’ work, leading him to conclude that SWIM is “not an original BTS composition but a copied song.”
SWIM serves as the title track of BTS’ fifth full-length album, Arirang, released in March after the members completed their military service. The song has topped numerous domestic and international music charts and has become one of the group’s biggest global hits of the year.
Sources: Daum