Shark Family Plagiarism Controversy Ends After 6 Years...August Supreme Court Sentence
Jul 25, 2025
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The Supreme Court has confirmed the August 14 date for the judgment of the appeal of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by U.S. composer Jonathan Robert Wright (Johnny Only).
Jonathan Robert Wright filed a compensation suit against Smart Study in March 2019, alleging that 'The Shark Family' plagiarized the second work 'Baby Shark', which he remade in 2011, by giving unique characteristics to his word-of-mouth agitation.
Smart Study is not a 'Baby Shark', but a remake of a North American word-of-mouth nursery rhyme, which confronted the author that it is not restricted because it is an unknown author or a work whose copyright period has expired.
Both the first and second trials ruled against the plaintiff, but Jonathan Robert Wright did not accept it.
'Shark Family' is a children's song released by Smart Study through the early childhood education content Pinkfong in 2015. The song ranked 32nd on the Billboard main single chart 'Hot100' with the English title 'Baby Shark', becoming the first Korean children's song to enter the Billboard main chart. In 2018, it also entered the UK's official single chart, which is considered one of Billboard and two major pop charts.
Reporter Baek Ji-eun silk781220@sportschosun.com
silk781220@sportschosun.com
