The situation
A lawsuit has been filed against HYBE, claiming that BTS's song "Swim" copied key elements from an unpublished demo by songwriters Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler, and Greylyn Johnson. The lawsuit alleges that "Swim" has "substantial similarities" to the demo, including the signature phrase, harmonies, and rhythmic elements. The plaintiffs claim that they sent their demo to various parties, including execs at Artist Publishing Group, who allegedly shared it with songwriters who worked on "Swim".
What the internet did with it
- — "this is a classic case of *_사이다_* (a situation where someone gets what's coming to them), HYBE thought they could just take someone's work and get away with it"
- The musicologist hired by the plaintiffs, Alexander Stewart, has a history of being involved in high-profile music lawsuits, including cases against Ed Sheeran and Led Zeppelin, where his expert opinions were ultimately rejected by juries.
- On Theqoo, netizens are *눈치* (being cautious) in their reactions, with some pointing out that the plaintiffs' demo was sent to various parties, but there's no concrete evidence that HYBE or the songwriters behind "Swim" actually heard it or had access to it.
The open question
The key question remains whether HYBE or the songwriters behind "Swim" had actual access to the plaintiffs' demo, and whether the similarities between the two songs are enough to prove copyright infringement. The defendants' formal arguments, which will be filed in the months ahead, will likely attempt to address these questions and rebut the claims of the lawsuit.
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