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Sting Sued by Former Police Bandmates Over ‘Every Breath You Take’ Royalties

An early High Court case seeks back pay for alleged uncredited contributions to the Police’s 1983 hit.

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Overview

  • Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland filed a lawsuit in London High Court claiming they were never credited or paid for writing contributions to the song.
  • Court records list Sting, under his legal name Gordon Matthew Sumner, and his company Magnetic Publishing Limited as defendants.
  • The plaintiffs say they are owed millions in lost royalties after out-of-court settlement efforts stalled, according to reports.
  • A spokesperson for Sting reportedly denied the action was related to the song and did not provide further detail.
  • Sting holds the sole writing credit on the track and is reported to receive roughly $740,000–$745,000 a year from it, with his broader catalog sold to Universal Music Group in 2022.