BTS win copyright case in US court, but legal battle over SWIM is far from over
New Delhi: BTS have received a major boost in their ongoing legal battles, with a US federal court dismissing a copyright lawsuit filed against the K-pop group, their agency Big Hit Music and parent company HYBE. The court ruled in favour of the defendants after the complainant failed to provide sufficient details and evidence to support her allegations.
The decision brings relief to the seven-member group, who have had a busy year following their return as a full unit. However, the ruling does not mean all copyright-related disputes involving BTS have come to an end. The group is still facing a separate lawsuit in the US over their comeback track, SWIM, with Big Hit Music firmly rejecting the allegations.
Big relief for BTS and HYBE
According to South Korean publication Star News, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed an amended complaint filed by Melissa Mays on October 22. The lawsuit, which was initially filed on August 25, accused BTS and their team of using her unreleased songs without permission.
However, the court found that the complaint did not establish a valid legal basis for the allegations. Mays was unable to provide specific evidence demonstrating that the group’s music had been taken from her work.
The case had already faced difficulties in September, when Judge Leonie Brinkema found that the original complaint lacked sufficient grounds to proceed. Mays was given an opportunity to revise her filing and submit further details by October 9.
Although she submitted an amended complaint on October 8, the revised filing failed to address the concerns raised by the court. The judge subsequently dismissed the case, ruling in favour of BTS, Big Hit Music, HYBE and HYBE America.
The decision marks the end of this particular legal dispute, although it is separate from another copyright case involving the group’s latest music.
Copyright lawsuit over ‘SWIM’ continues
While the Virginia court ruling is good news for BTS, another copyright dispute involving their song SWIM remains unresolved.
Composers Steve Cooper, John Sandler and Graylin Johnson filed a separate lawsuit in the US District Court for the Central District of California on July 8. They allege that the BTS track contains elements from a copyrighted composition they had created earlier.
According to the composers, their demo, which also carries the title SWIM, was completed in March 2025. They claim that the BTS song shares similarities with their work across several musical elements, including its melody, chorus, harmony, rhythm and lyrics.
The plaintiffs have reportedly submitted an analysis by a musicologist to support their allegations. They are seeking damages as well as a share of the profits generated by the BTS song.
Big Hit Music, however, has strongly denied the accusations. The agency has maintained that the song was created independently and described the lawsuit as an allegation made unilaterally by the plaintiffs.
Responding to the case, the label stated, “This is merely a unilateral claim by the plaintiff. SWIM is a song created independently.”
BTS return as a full group with ‘ARIRANG’
The legal developments come during an important year for BTS. After completing their mandatory military service, RM, Jin, Suga, J Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook finally reunited to resume group activities.
The members marked their long-awaited comeback on March 20, 2026, with their fifth studio album, ARIRANG. Featuring 14 tracks, the album marked their first full-group release in three years and nine months.
BTS also took their new music on the road, kicking off their 2026-27 world tour in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9. The tour spans 34 regions and features 85 shows across Asia, North America, South America, Europe and Australia, with its final leg scheduled to continue until March 2027.
All about BTS
BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, made their debut in June 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment, now part of HYBE. Over the years, the group has become one of the biggest names in global music, taking K-pop to audiences far beyond South Korea.
Written By Uditi Sharma!