The Metal Gear series is known for its originality, but now it appears the series’ classic theme song may have been plagiarized. Metal Gear Solid composer Norihiko Hibino now says that the series’ staple theme song was removed from Metal Gear Solid 4 due to accusations from Russian composers who claimed that the composer stole music from Georgy Sviridov’s concerto “Pushkin’s Garland” from 1979.

“The truth is, Konami [had legal problems with] Russian composers who said we stole their music,” Hibino said. “They didn’t, actually. But Konami was too sensitive about the situation and just decided not to use that music in the game.”

The Metal Gear Solid theme is credited to composer Tappi Iwase; it debuted with the release of Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation in 1998.