Plagiarism is a severe concern for singers, even mere suspicions can damage their reputation. This is especially true for singer-songwriters who compose and write their own songs.

K-pop star IU (30) has been accused of music plagiarism and reported to the police. According to the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul, a complaint was filed on the 8th, claiming that IU had violated copyright laws by plagiarizing other artists' songs.

The complainant, referred to as Mr. A, reported that a total of six songs, including IU's signature song "Good Day" (2010), "Boo" and "Marshmallow" (both 2009), "Red Shoes" (2013), "Bbibbi" (2018), and "Celebrity" (2021), showed evidence of plagiarism from domestic and foreign artists. IU was involved in composing "Celebrity" and producing "Bbibbi." The complaint states that "many of these songs have identical melodies, rhythms, and chord progressions to the original works, particularly 'Good Day' and 'Red Shoes,' which have a considerable similarity even to the general listener."

Plagiarism Allegations Against K-pop Star IU: A Risk to Her 15-Year Career?
(Photo : EDAM Entertainment)

It is noteworthy that the complainant is not the original copyright holder. Typically, copyright infringement cases proceed only when the original copyright holder files a complaint. In this case, the complainant is an ordinary citizen.

The complainant based the complaint on an exception clause that allows for prosecution without a complaint if the violation is committed for profit or habitually.

Plagiarism allegations against IU have been raised consistently in the past. "Red Shoes" was embroiled in a plagiarism controversy in 2013 shortly after its release, as it was accused of having many similarities with Nekta's "Here's Us." At the time, IU's agency rebutted that "the chord progressions of the two songs are entirely different, although some melodies may sound similar." However, videos raising plagiarism suspicions about IU continued to appear on YouTube.

IU's agency commented on the recent plagiarism controversy, stating that "we have not yet been contacted by the investigation agency officially and first became aware of the complaint through the news. We are currently reviewing the contents of the complaint." The agency also announced a strong response to the posts that raised plagiarism suspicions about IU, filing a complaint for spreading false information.

Netizens are also divided on the issue, with opinions varying between "it is plagiarism" and "it's a commonly used melody." Especially given IU's history of adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards rumor-mongers and malicious commenters, some speculate that this controversy could be the work of some of those individuals.

In fact, some of the videos raising plagiarism suspicions about IU include ones with altered speeds or keys of the original songs. Some voices caution against interpreting unverified content too broadly.

Plagiarism allegations have been raised in the music industry for a long time, but making objective and accurate judgments is not easy. Most controversies eventually fade away without a clear conclusion. If the original copyright holder sues in court, the plagiarism dispute can be resolved, but the legal process is lengthy, and even if they win, the compensation is not significant.

An industry insider expressed concern, saying, "When plagiarism controversies surround famous artists, most people don't pay attention to the outcome. Just being mentioned in connection with plagiarism allegations is already damaging to a pop singer's image."

A prime example is the plagiarism scandal involving Yoo Hee-yeol. Last year, some YouTubers raised suspicions about Yoo Hee-yeol's plagiarism, which became a hot issue in the music industry for a while. Yoo Hee-yeol's agency denied the allegations, but the damage to his reputation was already done. In the end, the controversy fizzled out without a clear conclusion, but the impact on Yoo Hee-yeol's image and career was significant.

Plagiarism Allegations Against K-pop Star IU: A Risk to Her 15-Year Career?
(Photo : EDAM Entertainment)

Considering IU's long and successful career, spanning 15 years, the recent plagiarism allegations could potentially put her career at risk. For now, it remains to be seen how this controversy will unfold and whether it will have lasting repercussions on her reputation and career.

In the meantime, fans and supporters of IU are voicing their opinions online, defending her and expressing their trust in her creative integrity. They argue that the allegations are baseless, and the similarities between the songs in question are coincidental or a result of common music tropes.

As the investigation continues, the music industry and fans alike will be closely monitoring the outcome. The stakes are high for IU, as any further damage to her reputation could jeopardize her long-standing career and the trust of her loyal fan base.

It is crucial for artists, agencies, and the music industry to address plagiarism allegations seriously and transparently. Such controversies not only affect individual artists but also undermine the credibility and integrity of the entire industry. In the end, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to maintain a fair and creative environment that allows for growth and innovation in music.

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