Legal Battle Over Royalties Involves Sting and Former Bandmates

A former member of the rock band The Police has filed a lawsuit against Sting, alleging unpaid royalties for the iconic track “Every Breath You Take.” The 73-year-old musician is being pursued by guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland over claims that have been lingering since 1983.

The lawsuit seeks “substantial” damages, marking the latest development in a long-standing dispute regarding royalties. A source indicated that attempts at an out-of-court settlement have stalled, leading to this legal action.

The lawsuit was reportedly initiated in London’s High Court. “This issue has been going on for quite a while now,” the source shared, indicating that discussions have been fruitless so far.

Summers and Copeland decided that court was the next step, as they felt there was no other option left to resolve their differences. Sting, famous for making considerable sums in royalties from The Police’s greatest hits, has faced scrutiny for not crediting his bandmates in the past. In fact, the song in question remains one of the biggest sellers of the 1980s.

The lawsuit names Sting’s publishing company, Magnetic Publishing Limited, among the defendants. Interestingly, a representative for Sting stated that the legal action is not directly related to the song itself, but offered no further details.

The Police, formed in 1977, skyrocketed to fame after the release of their second album, “Reggatta de Blanc,” in 1979. Their impressive catalog includes five UK number one singles, with other classics such as “Roxanne” and “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic.”

Despite their historic success, the band members have had turbulent relations, which ultimately led to their breakup shortly after their final tour in 1984.