Sting is at the center of a new legal battle with his former Police bandmates, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, who have filed a lawsuit in the London High Court over royalties tied to one of the band’s most famous songs, “Every Breath You Take.” The suit, first reported by The Sun and later confirmed by outlets including People and the Los Angeles Times, accuses Sting of failing to properly credit the two musicians for their contributions to the 1983 hit and denying them royalties they argue they are owed.
The filing names Sting, whose legal name is Gordon Matthew Sumner, and his publishing company, Magnetic Publishing, as defendants. Summers and Copeland allege that they were instrumental in shaping the song’s final form, but were never acknowledged as co-writers. As a result, they claim they have not received royalty payments for either the original recording’s enduring popularity or its highly profitable sampling in Puff Daddy and Faith Evans’ 1997 single “I’ll Be Missing You,” which interpolated the track as a tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G.
“Every Breath You Take” was the Police’s first and only Number One single in the United States and has remained one of the most lucrative tracks in the band’s catalog. The song was a global hit upon release, topping charts worldwide, and has since become one of the most played songs in radio history. Its afterlife as the backbone of “I’ll Be Missing You” extended its reach even further, leading to renewed commercial success and significant licensing revenue. That track also hit Number One in multiple countries, won a Grammy Award, and became one of the best-selling singles of the 1990s.
Summers and Copeland argue that despite their roles in developing the signature guitar riff, arrangement, and overall composition, they have been excluded from the financial windfall. A source close to the band told The Sun that the issue has been simmering for years: “This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate. Andy and Stewart decided there was no alternative than court so pressed the button. They say they are owed millions in lost royalties.”
Neither Sting’s representatives nor the representatives for Summers and Copeland have commented publicly on the lawsuit. The filing underscores the longstanding tensions that have surrounded the Police since their breakup in 1986. While the trio reunited for a 30th anniversary world tour in 2007, disputes over songwriting credit and money have persisted behind the scenes.
The lawsuit also comes in the wake of Sting’s business deal with Universal Music Publishing Group. In 2022, the singer-songwriter sold his entire publishing catalog, encompassing both his material as a solo artist and his work with the Police, to Universal for a reported $250 million. The deal was framed as one of the most valuable catalog acquisitions in recent years, placing Sting’s body of work alongside other megastar catalogs that have been bought by major labels and private equity firms. Whether or not the new lawsuit could impact the terms of that sale remains unclear, though Summers and Copeland’s claims suggest they believe their exclusion has persisted across multiple business arrangements involving the song.