South Korea’s Supreme Court has dismissed a 30 million won (about $21,600) copyright-infringement claim filed by U.S. composer Jonathan Wright, known professionally as Johnny Only, over the global children’s hit “Baby Shark.” The ruling ends a six-year legal battle and confirms earlier decisions by a Seoul district court in 2021 and an appellate court in 2023 that found no plagiarism by the song’s producer, the South Korean education-content firm The Pinkfong Company. Wright argued that Pinkfong’s 2015 version copied elements—including bassline and rhythm—from a rendition he uploaded in 2011. The courts held that both arrangements drew on a long-standing North American camp-song melody that is in the public domain and concluded Wright’s contribution lacked the substantial originality required for copyright protection. The decision preserves the commercial footing of Pinkfong’s flagship franchise. “Baby Shark Dance” has amassed more than 16 billion views on YouTube, making it the platform’s most-watched video, and helped Pinkfong generate 45.1 billion won ($32.6 million) in revenue in the first half of 2025, according to a regulatory filing. In its judgment, the Supreme Court said it accepted lower-court findings that Wright’s version did not involve significant modifications to the folk tune and that Pinkfong’s adaptation differed sufficiently in arrangement and expression. The company welcomed the outcome, saying it validates that its hit was “based on a traditional sing-along chant” rather than copied material.