BTS Officially Cleared of Plagiarism Allegations
BTS has received good news regarding music copyright disputes.
The lawsuit alleging that the song “SWIM” was plagiarized has officially come to an end. Notably, the three plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew their entire lawsuit just four months after filing it, allowing the renowned South Korean group to put another high-profile legal dispute behind them.

According to information reported by OSEN on November 5—citing Billboard and other U.S. media outlets—the three plaintiffs, Steve Cooper, John Sandler, and Graylin Johnson, filed a request with the court on November 4 (local time) to withdraw the entire lawsuit concerning BTS’s song “SWIM.”

Previously, in July, the three individuals had sued HYBE, HYBE America, BIGHIT Music, producer Ryan Tedder, and the songwriters involved in the track’s creation. They alleged that “SWIM” bore significant similarities to an unreleased demo—also titled “SWIM”—which they claimed to have composed themselves.

The plaintiffs argued that in March of last year, they had sent their demo to several industry professionals to showcase their work and seek potential collaborations. This included sharing the recording with executives at a music publishing company. The plaintiffs alleged that the demo was subsequently listened to and shared with others, including the songwriters who worked on BTS’s “SWIM.”

To support their claims, the plaintiffs hired a music expert to analyze and compare the two tracks, asserting that similarities had been identified. However, BIGHIT Music firmly rejected these assertions, emphasizing that they were merely one-sided allegations made by the plaintiffs. The company stated that “SWIM” is an independently created work and affirmed that it would take firm legal action to protect the rights of the artists and those involved in the music production process.

The dispute has officially come to an end after the three plaintiffs unexpectedly withdrew their entire lawsuit approximately four months after filing it. However, this development does not mean the court issued a ruling confirming that BTS did not commit copyright infringement; rather, the case concluded because the plaintiffs chose to withdraw their claims.

Notably, this is not the first time recently that BTS has achieved a favorable outcome in disputes concerning music copyright. Previously, on October 22, the group also prevailed in a lawsuit initiated by an individual named Melissa Mays.

Mays had alleged that BTS used her musical material without authorization in six tracks from their fifth studio album, *ARIRANG*—including the song “SWIM.” The court, however, dismissed the case, noting that the plaintiff failed to provide specific evidence to substantiate her allegations.

In a short span of time, BTS has successfully resolved two copyright disputes related to music from the *ARIRANG* album—one dismissed by the court due to a lack of concrete evidence, and the other concluded following the plaintiffs’ voluntary withdrawal of their lawsuit.

These developments come as welcome news for BTS, especially as the group focuses on their musical endeavors and their *ARIRANG* world tour. With these legal controversies now behind them, the group can better focus on their musical journey and connecting with fans across the globe.