NewJeans' 'How Sweet' faces copyright infringement lawsuit in the US

Hankyoreh

South Korean girl group NewJeans, a global sensation, is now embroiled in a copyright dispute in the United States. The lawsuit, filed by four composers including Audrey Amakoe, claims that the group's May 2024 release, 'How Sweet,' bears striking similarities to their demo track 'One of a Kind.' This development casts a shadow over the group's international success, raising questions about originality in the highly competitive K-pop industry.

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This song's composer and producer confirmed that there was no plagiarism.

The plaintiffs assert that melodies and structures in the first verse of 'How Sweet' are nearly identical to 'One of a Kind,' even sharing the same key and tempo. While NewJeans' agency, ADOR, has firmly denied the accusations, stating that their producer has confirmed no plagiarism, the legal challenge underscores the complexities of music creation and intellectual property in the global music market. The group's recent achievements, including charting on Billboard and being recognized by Rolling Stone, now face scrutiny.

This lawsuit is particularly significant given NewJeans' immense popularity and ADOR's ongoing internal struggles. The agency, a subsidiary of HYBE, is currently navigating a dispute between its CEO Min Hee-jin and the parent company. Despite these internal challenges, ADOR has pledged to vigorously defend against the copyright claims, aligning with the producer's stance. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for how intellectual property is handled in the international music scene, especially for rising global artists.

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ADOR and the members will respond to the lawsuit based on ADOR's position.