The BTS Swim Plagiarism Lawsuit is one of the biggest entertainment stories globally this July 2026, as fans and the music industry follow the case with both avaricious eyes and curious minds. The issue is the lead song “Swim” off the chart-topping album Arirang by BTS, which hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 list this year.
The lawsuit has had much backlash on the Internet, and many fans are asking themselves the questions: Who exactly is being sued, and are the BTS members named in the lawsuit individually? The following is what we know thus far.
What Is the BTS “Swim” Lawsuit About?
HYBE is sued on behalf of three U.S. songwriters, Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson, on July 8, 2026 in the United States District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Central District of California.
The plaintiffs say that BTS’s mega-hit “Swim” plagiarized substantial musical components of a very similar demo the group produced back in 2025, which never saw release. The demo is said to have been allegedly shared with industry executives via the music-sharing platform, Disco.ac beforehand BTS’s version.
The composers claim the demand they made got to people involved in the songwriting process since the two songs are so similar that they justify a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Who Is Being Sued in the “Swim” Lawsuit?
The suit doesn’t seek to attack the musicians; it targets those who publish, produce and commercially release the song.
The corporate defendants listed in the complaint are HYBE Co. and its U.S. affiliates HYBE America, HYBE Music Services, Big Hit Music and Artist Publishing Group (APG). In fact, prior to being passed around to people working on “Swim,” the plaintiffs say APG had their demo, according to the complaint.
The complaint also lists several of the songwriters and producers for the song who are credited, and have played a major role in the West. These include Ryan Tedder, Derrick Milano, James Essien, Tyler Spry, Sean Foreman, Kirsten Spencer and Jamison Baken (aka Leclair).
These people have a direct link with creating the composition and should be held responsible if infringement of the copyright is proven, the lawsuit states.
Are BTS Members Named in the Lawsuit?
There are no allegations against the seven members of BTS in the federal lawsuit. This is also to include RM (Kim Nam-joon) who specifically has been named as one of the songwriters for “Swim”.
Although he wrote the plagiarized work, the plaintiffs decided not to file a lawsuit against RM, or any other BTS member. Rather, it focuses on the companies that own, publish and market the music, as well as the main melody writers and producers working on the production of these songs.
This is a fairly typical practice in U.S. copyright litigation, that typically places duty on the publisher, film production company and composer and not on the recording artist.
Why Isn’t RM Being Sued Despite His Songwriting Credit?
This led an abundant amount of RM fans asking the question of why he was omitted despite being given songwriting credit.
In cases of copyright, not all of the people listed as authors are necessarily liable for the content of the work. Specifically singled out by the lawsuit are individuals the plaintiffs say had direct involvement in the creation of the allegedly infringing musical composition or possibly had access to the original demo.
Plaintiffs have not alleged that he viewed their demo or copied their work, so he is not named as a defendant as the music was essentially created solely by him as a composer/lyricist and performer.
Big Hit Music Responds to the Allegations
After this, Big Hit Music released an official statement where it has denied all the allegations made. The lawsuit was basically a “one-sided and unsubstantiated claim,” the label concluded, and “Swim” was “totally independent” from Morrell, the label said.
The company also stated that it will take the necessary steps in the right direction to protect itself, as typical legal action. The suit is at an early stage and judges have not heard the issues.
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What Could Happen Next?
As the case rolls on through the U.S. legal system, it will be necessary for both parties to offer evidence to back up each of their claims about the songwriting process and their alleged access to that demo, and to how the two songs were alike and different.
The court will, at the end of the day, decide if there was any copyright infringement, unless a settlement has already been negotiated beforehand. Meanwhile, “Swim” continues to be released on the streaming services, and BTS’s tour dates, including future shows, will not stop until further notice.
FAQ’s
By whom was the lawsuit brought?
The plaintiff songwriters Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson, filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Which individuals are being sued in the “Swim” case filed against BTS?
The defendants are HYBE Co., HYBE America, HYBE Music Services, Big Hit Music and other credited Western songwriters and producers such as Ryan Tedder and Derrick Milano and Artist Publishing Group (APG).
Are there any BTS members mentioned in the lawsuit?
None of the BTS members including RM are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The lawsuit is targeted at the companies and songwriting team that penned the track but would not sway against the artists.
