SEOUL — Big Hit Music denied on Friday allegations that BTS’ song “Swim” infringed on the copyright of a demo song after three American songwriters filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in a California federal court.
The agency, a subsidiary of Hybe, said the song was independently created and rejected the claims made by Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson.
“‘Swim’ is an independent creation,” Big Hit Music said in a statement shared with The Korea Herald. “The allegations in the lawsuit are unilateral and unsubstantiated. We will respond firmly through the appropriate legal process.”
The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. According to U.S. media reports, the complaint names Hybe, Hybe America, Big Hit Music and the song’s co-writers Derrick Milano, James Essien and Ryan Tedder as defendants. BTS members are not named in the lawsuit. RM and producer Pdogg, who participated in writing the song, are also not named as defendants.
The complaint states that the plaintiffs wrote their version of “Swim” in early 2025 and completed a demo in March. They allege they shared the recording with music industry contacts, including executives at Artist Publishing Group through the music-sharing platform Disco, and claim it may have reached the writers of BTS’ song.
The plaintiffs also submitted an analysis by musicologist Alexander Stewart, who identified alleged similarities between the two songs in the title hook, harmony, texture, rhythm and lyrics. The complaint argues that BTS’ “Swim” is not an original composition.
The songwriters asked the court to stop further commercial use of “Swim” and award damages and profits generated by the song. Alternatively, they requested recognition as co-writers and a share of the song’s copyright royalties.
BTS released “Swim” as the lead single from the group’s fifth album, “Arirang.” The song won Best Song of the Summer at the recent American Music Awards.
The group resumed full-group activities earlier this year after all seven members completed their mandatory military service. BTS is currently performing the European leg of its “Arirang” world tour and is scheduled to hold concerts at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan on March 13, 14 and 16, 2027.