Seoul: The Supreme Court on Thursday confirmed lower courts' rulings against an American composer in a plagiarism suit he brought against the producer of the popular South Korean children's song "Baby Shark" six years ago.
According to Yonhap News Agency, New York-based composer Johnny Only, whose legal name is Jonathan Wright, filed the lawsuit in Seoul in March 2019. He claimed that "Baby Shark," the globally recognized song released by South Korean education startup SmartStudy in 2015, copied his 2011 composition.
SmartStudy, which has since rebranded as The Pinkfong Company, defended its creation by stating that "Baby Shark" was a recreation of a traditional North American children's song, which is not protected by valid copyrights. The catchy two-minute song depicting a shark family's underwater adventures has gained immense popularity both online and on television worldwide.
South Korea's district and appellate courts previously dismissed Only's claims, citing that his song does not qualify as a derivative work under copyright law. The Supreme Court has now upheld these rulings, marking the end of the legal battle.