Songwriters withdraw copyright lawsuit over BTS track “SWIM”

Three songwriters have withdrawn their copyright lawsuit alleging that BTS’s song “SWIM” copied their demo, ending the case without a court ruling on the claim.

A notice filed on 4 November dismissed the action in its entirety, and the court closed the case. The filing did not explain why the songwriters withdrew it or say whether the parties had reached a settlement.

Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler and Greylyn Johnson filed the lawsuit in July, alleging that “SWIM” reproduced an unreleased demo of the same name. HYBE’s Big Hit Music rejected the allegations after the suit was filed, saying the track was independently created.

The dismissal was without prejudice, meaning the songwriters are not barred from bringing the same claims again. The lawsuit named music companies and songwriters involved in “SWIM”; BTS and its members were not defendants.