The civil division of South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a viral version of “Baby Shark” from the Pinkfong entertainment company did not plagiarize a U.S. songwriter.

Songwriter Jonathan Wright, known professionally as Johnny Only, contended in a lawsuit that the Pinkfong rendition of the kids’ song ripped off his 2011 remake, according to the Korea Times.

“There is no evidence to support the conclusion that Johnny Only’s song contains any newly added original elements or that it infringes the copyright of a derivative work (a work modified from the original song),” the court said, according to Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, as translated from Korean.

In rejecting Mr. Wright’s damages claim for $21,600, the South Korean Supreme Court upheld two lower court rulings from 2021 and 2023, according to The Associated Press.

Mr. Wright told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2019 that “their version does seem strikingly similar to mine. Same key, same tempo change, same melody and rhythm.”

Pinkfong told the AP that its version added “an upbeat rhythm and catchy melody” to the core “Baby Shark” song.

A YouTube video featuring the song released in 2016 is up to 16 billion views. The song hit the Billboard Top 100 at number 32 in January 2019 and later became a cheer for the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.