South Korean Supreme Court Approves Rulings Against US Composer In Suit Over 'Baby Shark'
New York-based composer Johnny Only, whose legal name is Jonathan Wright, filed the lawsuit in Seoul in March 2019, claiming that "Baby Shark," the world-famous song released by South Korean education startup SmartStudy in 2015, copied his 2011 song.
SmartStudy, now renamed The Pinkfong Company, has said its song was a recreation of a traditional North American children's song that has no valid copyrights.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
David Archuleta marks new musical era with EP Earthly Delights
AMERICAN singer David Archuleta has returned with more music, kicking off his new musical chapter with the release of his EP Earthly Delights. Consisting of six tracks, the EP sees him explore the edgier side of his personality. 'There is something sweet about being naughty. It has actually helped me to get in touch with more tender, vulnerable parts of myself. So Earthly Delights is taking in the pleasures of what I always thought would keep me out of heaven,' said the former American Idol contestant. Listeners will get to hear Archuleta explore various genres of music, as he sings of self-discovery and the pleasures and pain of love. Days before the release of Earthly Delights, the Crush hitmaker gave fans a sneak peek with the music video premiere of Dulce Amor. A seamless fusion of English and Spanish, the song is a shimmering pop track that captures the rush of falling hard and fast for someone, blending the flirtatious energy of Creme Brulee and the edgy ache of Can I Call You. Archuleta first rose to fame as a contestant on American Idol at 16. His participation led him to become the runner-up. Upon the release of his first single Crush, the Miami native quickly captivated audiences with his voice, producing multiple platinum-selling hits.
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Court finds Baby Shark not a rip-off
SEOUL: South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that the globally popular children's song 'Baby Shark' was not plagiarised, dismissing a copyright claim from a US composer. With its catchy tune and lyrics, the 'Baby Shark Dance' video is the most-watched on YouTube, with over 16 billion views. This is roughly double the views of the second-place video, 'Despacito', and triple the third-place video, 'Wheels on the Bus'. In 2019, New York-based composer Jonathan Wright, known as Johnny Only, filed a lawsuit in Seoul. He alleged that the 2015 hit by South Korean educational company SmartStudy copied a song he had released in 2011. Only was seeking 30 million won (RM90,980) in compensation, claiming that the firm had copied elements of his work, including the bassline and rhythm. SmartStudy, now known as The Pinkfong Company, argued that its version was an adaptation of a traditional North American children's tune that is not protected by copyright. A South Korean lower court initially cleared the company of the charges in 2021, ruling that there was insufficient evidence of copyright infringement. This decision was upheld by an appeals court in 2023. Only then challenged the 2023 decision, but South Korea's Supreme Court affirmed the lower court rulings on Thursday. According to court documents seen by AFP, "all appeals were dismissed and the lower court's rulings were upheld." In a statement, The Pinkfong Company said the Supreme Court's decision confirmed that 'Baby Shark' was "based on a traditional singalong chant that has entered the public domain."
The Star
16 hours ago
- The Star
Fish Liew aims to re-master Bahasa M'sia
Compiled MARTIN CARVALHO, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN ACTRESS Fish Liew regrets neglecting her Bahasa Malaysia and vows to re-master the language for local roles, reported China Press. The 35-year-old, who won Best Supporting Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2022, will be starring in Pavane for an Infant – the latest movie by local director Chong Keat Aun. The Hong Kong-based Malaysian, who had returned here for filming, found that she had lost touch with her home country and could no longer speak the national language well. 'Every time I return home, when people call me a Hong Konger, I feel sad in my heart,' she said. According to Chong, Liew had dialogue in Mandarin, English, Hokkien, Cantonese and Bahasa Malaysia. 'It seems that she has been away for too long. When speaking Bahasa, she had to read her lines out word by word,' he said. Liew promised to re-master the language so that she can sound like an actual Malaysian on film. In Pavane for an Infant, Liew plays a social worker at a baby hatch who takes an interest in a troubled young girl who is contemplating abortion. The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
