Girls’ Generation

``Genie,’’ a new song released by Girls’ Generation last week, has been embroiled in a plagiarism dispute.

Some Internet users have raised questions about the fact that an Uzbek female singer unveiled a song similar to ``Genie,’’ which has been enjoying growing population in South Korea, several months earlier.

A music video of ``Raqsga Tushgin’’ sung by Uzbekistan’s Dineyra showed that the song has the same melody as ``Genie’’ with only the lyrics being different.

SM Entertainment, the agent of Girls’ Generation, one of South Korea’s top pop groups, said it had won authorization with regard to ``Genie’’ on Feb. 1 from Sweden’s Music Publishing Group.

European composers wrote the song and a South Korean songwriter added a melody and some lyrics to it, it said.

SM reportedly asked the Swedish music group to clarify the problem and Swedish officials said they have no idea of who the Uzebek singer is and have not given a go-ahead to the use of the song. ``We will take legal action,’’ a Swedish executive was quoted as saying.

``Genie’’ ranks first in various online music charts. Girls' Generation has been shining in the local music market since their debut in 2007 with a string of success: ``Into the World,’’ ``Girls' Generation,’’ ``Kissing You,’’ ``Baby Baby,’’ and ``Gee.’’

The members of the group are Yoona, Tiffany, Yuri, Hyoyeon, Sooyoung, Seohyun, Taeyeon, Jessica and Sunny.