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A six-year legal battle over one of the world's most recognisable children's songs has concluded in South Korea, as the nation's Supreme Court rejected a plagiarism claim against the producers of Baby Shark. The decision upholds earlier rulings in favour of Pinkfong, the South Korean company behind the viral phenomenon, whose simple "doo doo doo doo doo doo" refrain has been streamed billions of times.
The dispute began when US composer Jonathan Wright, known professionally as Johnny Only, alleged that Pinkfong's 2016 hit copied his 2011 arrangement of the traditional children's folk song. Wright argued that his interpretation was distinct enough to warrant copyright protection. Pinkfong countered that their version was an independent arrangement of a public-domain melody, and the courts agreed. The Supreme Court concluded that Wright's rendition did not constitute a "substantial alteration" of the original folk material, rendering it ineligible for copyright.
Baby Shark's origins predate both versions, with the song believed to have emerged in US summer camps in the 1970s, potentially gaining traction alongside the release of Steven Spielberg's Jaws in 1975. While earlier adaptations such as the French Bébé Requin and German Kleiner Hai found niche popularity, none matched the global reach of Pinkfong's cheerful reimagining.
After its YouTube release, complete with child-friendly choreography, the song became a cultural juggernaut. It was the platform's most-viewed video by November 2020, surpassing seven billion views, and the first to reach 10 billion views just over a year later. It has since been translated into more than 100 languages, incorporated into performances by artists including Blackpink and Josh Groban, and even adapted into a feature film.
For Wright, the legal defeat marks the end of a campaign sparked by seeing Pinkfong protect its version from political use in South Korea. While he will not gain ownership recognition, the case highlights the complexities of adapting folk works in the era of global digital entertainment—where a song sung at summer camp can, decades later, become a billion-dollar brand.
