BTS (Photo / BigHit Music)
BTS Title Track ‘Swim’ Faces U.S. Copyright Lawsuit as BigHit Denies Allegations
The title track from BTS’ fifth full-length album, Arirang, has become the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States, with several songwriters alleging the song copied key elements from an unreleased demo.
According to reports published Wednesday by Billboard and Music Business Worldwide (MBW), songwriters Steve Cooper, John Sandler, and Graylin Johnson filed a lawsuit on July 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against HYBE, HYBE America, BigHit Music, and several of the song’s credited writers.
The plaintiffs claim that BTS’ title track “Swim” incorporates protectable elements from an unreleased demo they created without authorization.
According to the complaint, the three writers began composing the demo in early 2025 and completed a recording in March. They said the demo was subsequently shared with multiple music industry contacts. They include representatives of U.S.-based music company Artist Publishing Group (APG) through the music collaboration platform Disco.
The lawsuit alleges that the demo may have reached songwriters who later participated in the creation of “Swim” through those industry connections.
Several credited co-writers of the BTS track, including Derek Milano, James Essien, and Ryan Tedder, appear as defendants. The lawsuit does not name BTS members as defendants, and it excludes RM, who participated in songwriting, as well as producer Pdogg.
The plaintiffs commissioned musicologist Alexander Stewart to compare the two works. In a preliminary report cited in the complaint, Stewart concluded that the songs share similarities that make it difficult to view them as entirely independent creations. He also stated that one work could plausibly reference the other.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent further exploitation of “Swim,” along with damages and disgorgement of profits. Alternatively, the plaintiffs are requesting recognition as co-songwriters and a share of future copyright royalties.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
In response, BigHit Music rejected the claims, calling them “one-sided allegations.”
“The claims made by the plaintiffs are entirely unilateral,” the company said in a statement on Thursday. “We clearly maintain that ‘Swim’ is an independently created work, and we will respond vigorously through the legal process.”
The case is expected to proceed in federal court.
Park Minji is a K‑pop writer and journalist who delivers sharp insights and engaging stories on Korean music and culture for global readers.
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