Fact-check analysisVerified as of August 14, 2025Curated by FactVerify
True

South Korean top court rules 'Baby Shark' not plagiarized

South Korea's Supreme Court has ruled that the popular children's song 'Baby Shark' was not plagiarized, rejecting the copyright claim by a US-based composer.

South Korean top court rules ‘Baby Shark’ not plagiarised - FMT

South Korean top court rules ‘Baby Shark’ not plagiarised - FMT

Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 14, 2025
  • South Korea's Supreme Court rejected the plagiarism claim filed by a US composer against the producers of 'Baby Shark'.

  • The court upheld two lower court verdicts that found no copyright violation.

  • The legal battle lasted six years before reaching this conclusive ruling.

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The South Korean Supreme Court officially dismissed a copyright infringement claim filed by an American composer who alleged that the producers of the globally popular children's song 'Baby Shark' plagiarized his work. This ruling upholds previous decisions by lower courts, effectively ending a six-year legal dispute. The court found no violation of copyright law in the South Korean version of 'Baby Shark,' confirming that the song is original and not a copy of the plaintiff's composition. This decision protects the rights of the South Korean content creators and affirms the legitimacy of their work in the international arena.

Key points include:

The ruling was made by South Korea's highest judicial authority, the Supreme Court.

The claim involved a US-based composer seeking damages for alleged plagiarism.

The court upheld earlier rulings that found no copyright infringement.

The case had been ongoing for approximately six years before this final decision.

This verdict is significant given 'Baby Shark's' global popularity and commercial success, reinforcing intellectual property protections for original creators in South Korea.

Primary trail

Verified Sources7

South Korean top court rules ‘Baby Shark’ not plagiarised

freemalaysiatoday.com
Open source

Korean version of 'Baby Shark' wasn't plagiarized: Supreme Court

koreaherald.com
Open source
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