Latest news with #JohnnyOnly
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
South Korean top court rules ‘Baby Shark' not plagiarised
The 'Baby Shark Dance' video is YouTube's most viewed, with over 16 billion views, roughly twice that of runner-up 'Despacito'. (Pinkfong pic) SEOUL : South Korea's top court ruled Thursday that the globally popular South Korean children's song 'Baby Shark' was not plagiarised, rejecting a copyright claim filed by a US-based composer. With its catchy lyrics, the 'Baby Shark Dance' video is the most viewed on YouTube, with more than 16 billion views, roughly double those of the runner-up, 'Despacito', and third-place 'Wheels on the Bus'. In 2019, New York composer Johnny Only, whose legal name is Jonathan Wright, filed a lawsuit in Seoul, alleging that the 2015 hit 'Baby Shark' by South Korean education startup SmartStudy copied a song he had released in 2011. Only demanded 30 million won (US$21,700) in compensation, accusing the firm of copying elements of his work, including its bassline and rhythm. SmartStudy, now known as The Pinkfong Company, argued that its version was an adaptation of a classic North American children's tune that is not protected by copyright. A South Korean lower court initially cleared the company of the charges at a trial in 2021, finding that there was insufficient evidence of copyright infringement. That ruling was upheld by an appeal court in 2023. Only then challenged the 2023 decision, but South Korea's Supreme Court affirmed the lower court rulings on Thursday. 'All appeals were dismissed and the lower court's rulings were upheld,' according to court documents seen by AFP. The Pinkfong Company said in a statement Thursday that the Supreme Court's decision confirmed 'Baby Shark' was 'based on a traditional singalong chant that has entered the public domain'. The company said it had given 'a fresh twist to the chant by adding an upbeat rhythm and catchy melody, turning it into the pop culture icon it is today'. Only did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment. He told Canadian public broadcaster CBC in 2019 that he had created a toddler-friendly version of 'Baby Shark' in 2011, revising the original song, which was about a gory shark attack. 'I was the first one that did that (rewriting the song), you know? And basically Pinkfong's version does the same thing,' he said in the interview.
CNA
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
South Korean top court rules Baby Shark not plagiarised
South Korea's top court ruled Thursday (Aug 14) that the globally popular South Korean children's song Baby Shark was not plagiarised, rejecting a copyright claim filed by a US-based composer. With its catchy lyrics, the Baby Shark Dance video is the most viewed on YouTube, with more than 16 billion views, roughly double those of the runner-up, Despacito and third-place Wheels On The Bus. In 2019, New York composer Johnny Only, whose legal name is Jonathan Wright, filed a lawsuit in Seoul, alleging that the 2015 hit Baby Shark by South Korean education startup SmartStudy copied a song he had released in 2011. Only demanded 30 million won (US$21,700) in compensation, accusing the firm of copying elements of his work, including its bassline and rhythm. SmartStudy, now known as The Pinkfong Company, argued that its version was an adaptation of a classic North American children's tune that is not protected by copyright. A South Korean lower court initially cleared the company of the charges at a trial in 2021, finding that there was insufficient evidence of copyright infringement. That ruling was upheld by an appeal court in 2023. Only then challenged the 2023 decision, but South Korea's Supreme Court affirmed the lower court rulings on Thursday. "All appeals were dismissed and the lower court's rulings were upheld," according to court documents seen by AFP. The Pinkfong Company said in a statement Thursday that the Supreme Court's decision confirmed Baby Shark was "based on a traditional singalong chant that has entered the public domain". The company said it had given "a fresh twist to the chant by adding an upbeat rhythm and catchy melody, turning it into the pop culture icon it is today". Only did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment. He told Canadian public broadcaster CBC in 2019 that he had created a toddler-friendly version of Baby Shark in 2011, revising the original song, which was about a gory shark attack. "I was the first one that did that (rewriting the song), you know? And basically Pinkfong's version does the same thing," he said in the interview.
The Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Top court rules ‘Baby Shark' song not plagiarised
THE top court here has ruled that the globally-popular South Korean children's song Baby Shark was not plagiarised, rejecting a copyright claim filed by a US-based composer. With its catchy lyrics, the Baby Shark Dance video is the most viewed on YouTube with more than 16 billion views, roughly double those of the runner-up, Despacito and third place, Wheels on the Bus. In 2019, New York composer Johnny Only, whose legal name is Jonathan Wright, filed a lawsuit in Seoul, alleging that the 2015 hit Baby Shark by South Korean education start-up SmartStudy copied a song he had released in 2011. Only demanded 30 million won in compensation, accusing the firm of copying elements of his work, including its bassline and rhythm. SmartStudy, now known as The Pinkfong Company, argued that its version was an adaptation of a classic North American children's tune that is not protected by copyright. A South Korean lower court initially cleared the company of the charges at a trial in 2021, finding that there was insufficient evidence of copyright infringement. That ruling was upheld by an appeal court in 2023. Only then challenged the 2023 decision, but South Korea's Supreme Court affirmed the lower court rulings yesterday. 'All appeals were dismissed and the lower court's rulings were upheld,' according to court documents seen by AFP. The Pinkfong Company said it had given 'a fresh twist to the chant by adding an upbeat rhythm and catchy melody, turning it into the pop culture icon it is today'. — AFP
CBC
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
U.S. composer's copyright claims to Baby Shark song dismissed by South Korean Supreme Court
Social Sharing South Korea's Supreme Court has rejected a 30-million won ($21,600 US) damage claim by an American composer who accused a South Korean kids content company of plagiarizing his version of Baby Shark, ending a six-year legal battle over the globally popular tune known for its catchy "doo doo doo doo doo doo" hook. On Thursday, the top court upheld lower court rulings dating back to 2021 and 2023 that found no sufficient grounds to conclude the company, Pinkfong, infringed on Jonathan Wright's copyright. Wright, also known as Johnny Only, released his version in 2011, four years before Pinkfong's, but both were based on a traditional melody popular for years at children's summer camps in the United States. The courts ruled Wright's version did not differ enough from the original melody to qualify as an original creative work eligible for copyright protection, and that Pinkfong's song had clear differences from Wright's. WATCH | Johnny Only's version: The Supreme Court said its ruling reaffirms the established legal principle on existing folk tunes as derivative work. "The Supreme Court accepts the lower court's finding that the plaintiff's song did not involve substantial modifications to the folk tune related to the case to the extent that it could be regarded, by common social standards, as a separate work," it said in a statement. Pinkfong said in a statement to The Associated Press that the ruling confirmed its version of Baby Shark was based on a "traditional singalong chant" that was in the public domain. The company said it gave the tune a fresh twist by adding "an upbeat rhythm and catchy melody, turning it into the pop culture icon it is today." WATCH | Pinkfong's version: Chong Kyong-sok, Wright's South Korean lawyer, said he hadn't received the full version of the court's ruling yet, but called the outcome "a little disappointing." "Anyway, the matter is now settled," he said. "It's our work that came out first, so we can handle the licensing on our side and I guess we then each go our separate ways." Pinkfong's Baby Shark became a global phenomenon after it was released on YouTube in 2015, with the original "Baby Shark Dance" video now exceeding 16 billion views and peaking at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. Baby Shark remains a crucial product for Pinkfong, which earned 45.1 billion won ($32.6 million US) in revenue in the first half of 2025, according to its regulatory filing. The company has turned the five-member shark family — Baby Shark, Mama Shark, Papa Shark, Grandma Shark and Grandpa Shark — into TV and Netflix shows, movies, smartphone apps and globally touring musicals.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
South Korea's top court clears Baby Shark of plagiarism claims
SEOUL: South Korea's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the global children's hit 'Baby Shark' does not constitute plagiarism. The decision dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by US-based composer Johnny Only against South Korean education firm SmartStudy. The viral 'Baby Shark Dance' video remains YouTube's most-viewed content with over 16 billion views, surpassing Luis Fonsi's 'Despacito'. Johnny Only, legally named Jonathan Wright, had claimed SmartStudy's 2015 release copied his 2011 composition's bassline and rhythm. He sought 30 million won ($21,700) in compensation through his 2019 Seoul lawsuit against the Korean company. SmartStudy, now rebranded as The Pinkfong Company, maintained their version adapted a traditional children's tune in the public domain. A Seoul district court originally cleared Pinkfong of copyright violations in 2021 due to insufficient evidence. The appellate court upheld this verdict in 2023 before Thursday's Supreme Court confirmation. Court documents stated 'All appeals were dismissed and the lower court's rulings were upheld' in the final judgment. Pinkfong celebrated the ruling, stating it validated their creative adaptation of a traditional chant into a pop phenomenon. The company credited their success to adding 'an upbeat rhythm and catchy melody' to the public domain material. Only previously told CBC he had rewritten the original shark attack song into a child-friendly version in 2011. He claimed Pinkfong's version followed his creative approach during the 2019 interview. The composer had not responded to AFP's request for comment following Thursday's verdict. - AFP
