Songwriters drop U.S. copyright lawsuit against HYBE over BTS' 'SWIM'
Three songwriters who claimed BTS' Hot 100 No. 1 'SWIM' copied their demo voluntarily dismissed their U.S. lawsuit against HYBE on November 4, less than four months after filing it; court papers do not say whether there was a settlement.
The copyright fight over BTS' 'SWIM' is over, at least for now. Attorneys for songwriters Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson asked a federal court in California on November 4 to dismiss their lawsuit in its entirety, and the judge dismissed it without prejudice the same day, according to Billboard and Music Business Worldwide.
The trio sued in July, claiming 'SWIM,' the lead single of BTS' album 'ARIRANG' and a Billboard Hot 100 No. 1, copied an unpublished demo of the same name. They named HYBE, HYBE America, Big Hit Music and the song's credited writers, including Ryan Tedder, but not BTS or its members. BigHit Music had rejected the claims as one-sided and said 'SWIM' was an independent creation.
Billboard says court papers don't show whether a settlement was reached, and neither side commented. Because the dismissal was without prejudice, the plaintiffs could technically refile, MBW notes.
Confirmed
- Per a November 4 notice in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, cited by Music Business Worldwide, plaintiffs Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson stated: 'This action is dismissed by the Plaintiff(s) in its entirety.'
- Per MBW, Judge Otis D. Wright II dismissed the case without prejudice the same day and ordered it closed.
Reported by other outlets
- Billboard reports that it was unclear from court documents whether any settlement was reached, that neither side immediately returned requests for comment, and that HYBE's attorneys had not yet formally responded to the suit.
- Billboard and Yonhap say the July suit targeted HYBE, HYBE America, Big Hit Music and SWIM's credited writers including Ryan Tedder, but not BTS or its members.
- MBW reports that, because the dismissal was without prejudice, the plaintiffs are not barred from refiling, and that no court ruled on whether 'SWIM' copied their work.
- In July, BigHit Music called the allegations one-sided and said 'SWIM' is an independent creation, per Yonhap and MBW.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the two sides reached a settlement has not been disclosed.
Analysis
2FC NEWSROOM: A voluntary dismissal before HYBE even answered ends the immediate risk to one of BTS' biggest hits, though it is not a court ruling that 'SWIM' was original.