Former Police Members File Lawsuit Against Sting for Unpaid Royalties

## Lawsuit Filed by Former Police Members Over Missing Royalties

Former members of the band The Police, **Andy Summers** and **Stewart Copeland**, are taking legal action regarding unpaid royalties related to the iconic song **“Every Breath You Take.”** According to reports from sources like the *Los Angeles Times*, the lawsuit was lodged in London’s High Court.

### Claims of Uncredited Contributions

Summers and Copeland claim they have not been acknowledged as songwriters for “Every Breath You Take” and, consequently, have never received royalties for their contributions. This song was a major hit, being The Police’s only Number One single in the U.S., and also gained renewed fame as a sample in Puff Daddy and Faith Evans’ tribute to Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You.”

### Defendants Listed in the Case

In this lawsuit, both Sting (real name Gordon Matthew Sumner) and his publishing entity, Magnetic Publishing, are identified as defendants. The U.K. tabloid *The Sun* was the first to break the news about the legal dispute, later echoed by various outlets like *People*, which highlighted the London High Court’s database classifying the case under “general commercial contracts and arrangements.”

### Failed Attempts at Settlement

A source close to the situation mentioned to *The Sun* that this lawsuit has been anticipated for some time. Legal teams attempted multiple times to settle out of court but encountered a deadlock. As a result, Summers and Copeland felt they had no choice but to pursue legal action, claiming they are owed millions in unpaid royalties.

### Sting’s Recent Catalog Sale

In a related note, Sting sold the rights to his songwriting catalog to Universal Music Group in 2022, which included both his solo work and tracks from his time with The Police. This deal was valued at approximately $250 million.

What are your thoughts on the ongoing legal disputes in the music industry?