South Korea's Supreme Court has dismissed a copyright lawsuit brought by US composer Jonathan Wright against Pinkfong, the producer of the viral children's song Baby Shark. The court upheld lower court rulings that there was insufficient evidence of infringement, ending a six-year legal battle.
Wright, known as Johnny Only, claimed Pinkfong copied his 2011 version of the traditional song, which includes the iconic 'doo doo doo doo doo doo' refrain. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Wright's version did not constitute a separate work under copyright law, as it lacked 'substantial alteration' from the original.
The court also found no substantial similarities between Pinkfong's 2016 release and Wright's version, even assuming Wright's work was a derivative. Pinkfong argued its song was an arrangement of a public domain tune, a stance supported by the court.
Baby Shark has become a global phenomenon, with its music video amassing over 16 billion views on YouTube, making it the most-viewed video on the platform. Pinkfong stated the ruling confirms the song is based on a traditional chant that has entered the public domain.
