Three songwriters have filed a copyright lawsuit against HYBE, HYBE America, Big Hit Music, and several credited songwriters, alleging that BTS's chart-topping single "Swim" copied significant elements from their unpublished demo. The lawsuit, filed on July 8, names Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler, and Greylyn Johnson as plaintiffs, who claim that BTS's version bears substantial similarities to their own composition of the same title. BTS and its individual members are not named as defendants.
Allegations of Access and Copying
The plaintiffs argue that after listening to BTS's "Swim" multiple times, they reached an "obvious and inescapable conclusion" that their original work had been copied "in very large part." They claim that distinctive musical and lyrical elements from their demo, which they began circulating in March 2025, were reproduced in the commercially released version. According to the complaint, the demo was shared with executives at Artist Publishing Group, who allegedly listened to the recording and distributed it to individuals later involved in writing BTS's "Swim." These allegations have not been proven in court.
Expert Analysis and Prior Cases
To support their case, the plaintiffs hired musicologist Alexander Stewart to conduct an expert analysis comparing both recordings. Stewart's report, quoted extensively in the complaint, concludes that several musical features—including the song's central hook, harmonies, textures, rhythmic structure, and lyrical elements—were allegedly taken from the earlier demo. He wrote that the combination of similarities made independent creation unlikely and copying the most probable explanation. Stewart has previously testified in high-profile music copyright cases involving Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" and Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," where courts ruled in favor of the defendants.
Attempts at Private Resolution
The complaint states that the three songwriters attempted to resolve the matter privately before filing the lawsuit. Their representatives contacted HYBE and the other defendants, but discussions did not lead to an agreement, prompting legal action. At the time the lawsuit became public, representatives for HYBE, Artist Publishing Group, and songwriter Ryan Tedder had not publicly responded to the allegations. The defendants are expected to file their legal responses in the coming months and may seek dismissal of the claims or contest the allegations in court.
