BTS' 'Swim' hit with copyright infringement claims

K-pop supergroup BTS’ multiawarded single “Swim” has been slapped with a copyright infringement lawsuit on Wednesday in California by three American songwriters who alleged the song substantially copied elements of a demo song of the same title submitted to them.

Big Hit Music, Hybe’s music subsidiary and BTS’ agency, on Friday denied allegations that the group’s global hit “Swim” infringed on the copyright of a song by accusers identified as Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson

READ: BTS fans protest Chile’s block on concerts

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“‘Swim’ is an independent creation,” the agency 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.”

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The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit before the US District Court for the Central District of California.

A US media outlet reported Thursday that the complaint names Hybe, Hybe America, Big Hit Music and several of the song’s co-writers, including Derrick Milano, James Essien and Ryan Tedder, as defendants. BTS members are not named in the lawsuit, nor are RM and producer Pdogg, both of whom participated in writing the track.

According to the complaint, the three songwriters began working on their version of “Swim” in early 2025 and completed a demo in March that year. The plaintiffs allege the recording was shared with multiple music industry contacts, including executives at Artist Publishing Group through the music-sharing platform Disco, and argue that it may have ultimately reached the songwriters behind BTS’ “Swim.”

The plaintiffs also commissioned musicologist Alexander Stewart to compare the two songs. According to the complaint, Stewart identified similarities in elements of the title hook, harmony, texture, rhythm and lyrics, concluding that BTS’ “Swim” was not an original composition.

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The three US songwriters are seeking an injunction barring further exploitation of “Swim,” as well as damages and disgorgement of profits. Alternatively, they are asking the court to recognize them as co-writers of the song and award them a share of its copyright royalties.

“Swim” was released as the lead track from BTS’ fifth and latest album “Arirang.” It was considered the biggest winner at the recent American Music Awards as the Best Song of the Summer.

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The septet’s AMA win follows its full-group comeback earlier this year after all seven members completed their military service. They are now currently on the European leg of their “Arirang” world tour, following their stop in the United Kingdom.

BTS will be coming to the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan for three dates on March 13, 14, and 16, 2027. The last time the full group performed here was in May 2017.

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