Copyright lawsuits are not uncommon in the music industry, especially for globally renowned artists like BTS. Throughout their career, the group has faced various controversies and been drawn into allegations of plagiarism. However, in most cases involving BTS, the plaintiffs have failed to provide concrete evidence to support their claims, and some cases have even led to BIGHIT MUSIC filing counterclaims for defamation.
Recently, a similar outcome was reached in a U.S. copyright lawsuit in which a female artist accused BTS of plagiarism.
According to South кσяєαn media reports earlier this month, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed an amended complaint filed by Melissa Mais on October 22, local time. A ruling in favor of the defendants, including BTS, HYBE, HYBE αмєяι¢α, and BIGHIT MUSIC, was also entered on the same day.
Previously, on August 25, Mais filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against BTS and the companies involved, alleging that the group had used one of her unreleased songs without authorization. However, according to the available information, the plaintiff failed to identify which BTS song allegedly copied her work and did not provide evidence or musical comparison materials to support her allegations.
On September 18, Judge Leonie Brinkema dismissed the original complaint, finding that Mais had failed to present sufficiently specific legal allegations to support her claims. Nevertheless, the court gave her an opportunity to amend the complaint and ordered her to submit the revised filing by 5 p.m. on October 9.
Mais submitted her amended complaint on October 8, one day before the ∂єα∂line. However, the attempt did not produce the outcome she had hoped for. Finding that the amended complaint still failed to meet the necessary legal requirements, the court issued its ruling—“Amended Complaint Dismissed”—approximately two weeks later, on October 22. A ruling in favor of BTS, HYBE, HYBE αмєяι¢α, and BIGHIT MUSIC was entered that same day, bringing the case to a close.
Melissa Mais is reportedly a self-described αмєяι¢αn songwriter of Jamaican descent who has filed copyright lawsuits against several internationally renowned artists in U.S. federal courts. She has drawn attention for bringing unilateral copyright infringement claims against major artists, many of which have reportedly been dismissed by the courts for lacking sufficient legal grounds.
Before the case involving BTS, Mais also filed a copyright lawsuit in U.S. federal court against Jamaican dancehall and reggae star Masicka, whose real name is Javaun Nicholas Fearon, around mid-2026. She accused the singer of using songs she had written without permission. The case is reportedly still pending in U.S. federal court, although its eventual outcome remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, another copyright lawsuit involving BTS’s title track “SWIM,” from their fifth album, *ARIRANG*, is still ongoing.
In July, αмєяι¢αn songwriters Steve Cooper, Jon Sandler, and Greylean Johnson filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging substantial similarities between BTS’s “SWIM” and a demo of the same name that they had completed in March of the previous year. In other words, the three songwriters are accusing BTS of plagiarizing their work.
The plaintiffs cited analyses by musicologists, arguing that the two works share similarities in melody, chorus, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics. They are also seeking damages and a share of the profits. In response, BIGHIT MUSIC rejected the allegations, maintaining that “SWIM” was independently created and stating that the company would address the matter through the appropriate legal procedures.
