Sting's former bandmates from The Police file a lawsuit claiming a portion of the songwriting royalties for Every Breath You Take.
In a surprising turn of events, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, two original members of the iconic band The Police, have filed a lawsuit against their former bandmate Sting (Gordon Sumner) over royalties for the band's most famous hit, "Every Breath You Take."
The lawsuit, filed 42 years after the song was first released, seeks a co-credit for Summers and Copeland, which could potentially mean millions in additional royalties. The guitar part added by Summers is said to have significantly transformed the song into a dramatic finished track, according to Summers himself.
Summers claims he contributed the distinctive guitar figure to the song, which he developed in the studio. His guitar contributions, he argues, underline the brooding, intense undertow of Sting's lyrics, as compared to the somewhat perky demo.
The guitar part was not originally part of the song when Sting wrote it, according to Summers. The guitar part, which is in The Police's guitar style, was added by Summers and is said to have been instrumental in the song's success.
The High Court in London has issued a writ in the case, and Sting and his publishing company Magnetic Publishing Limited are named as defendants. Lawyers attempted to settle the dispute out of court, but negotiations stalled.
Sting has yet to comment on the lawsuit. The case has been a long time coming, according to one source, as the band members have had a strained relationship for many years.
The song "Every Breath You Take" has earned Sting over £550,000 per year, making it one of the most profitable songs in the music industry. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the music industry and the way royalties are distributed in the future.
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