3 days ago
Olivia Dean Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over Bill Withers Song
A music publisher connected to Bill Withers says Olivia Dean’s song “I’ve Seen It” is too similar to one of his songs.
The older song is called “Just The Two Of Us.”
The publisher has filed a lawsuit in California.
It names record companies and publishing companies, but not Dean or her co-writers.
The publisher says a music expert compared the songs and found important similarities.
It also says the label was told about the concern in August.
The people and companies being sued had not publicly responded in the article.
A court will have to consider the claims; the lawsuit does not itself prove that copying happened.
Mattie Music Group alleges Olivia Dean’s song “I’ve Seen It” copies musical elements from Bill Withers’ “Just The Two Of Us.”
The lawsuit was filed in California and names Capitol Records, Universal Music Group and Dean’s publishing companies as defendants.
Dean and her co-writers Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang are not named as defendants.
The complaint says a musicologist found “substantial similarities” between the songs and alleges the label was notified in August.
The defendants and Dean’s representatives had not publicly responded; the complaint says the songs’ popularity gave the writers an opportunity to hear Withers’ composition.
- Who
- Mattie Music Group brought the lawsuit against Capitol Records, Universal Music Group and Dean’s publishing companies; Dean and her co-writers are not named as defendants.
- What
- A copyright lawsuit alleges that “I’ve Seen It” contains similarities to Bill Withers’ “Just The Two Of Us.”
- Where
- The case was filed in California.
- When
- The article does not give the filing date; it says the label was notified in August.
- Why
- Mattie Music Group alleges that musical features, including the melody, were copied and says an expert found substantial similarities.
Publisher’s allegations
Defendants’ response
Alleged musical copying
Publisher’s allegations
Mattie Music Group alleges that “I’ve Seen It” repeats musical features, including melody, from “Just The Two Of Us”; it says a musicologist found substantial similarities.
Defendants’ response
The article reports no public response from the defendants or Dean’s representatives, and the allegations have not been established in court.
Opportunity to hear the earlier song
Publisher’s allegations
The complaint argues that the older song’s long-running popularity and decades of radio play gave Dean and her co-writers a reasonable opportunity to encounter it.
Defendants’ response
No response to this allegation is reported in the article.
Key facts
- Plaintiff
- Mattie Music Group, which manages Bill Withers’ catalogue
- Song at issue
- “I’ve Seen It,” the closing track on Olivia Dean’s 2025 album The Art of Loving
- Compared song
- “Just The Two Of Us,” recorded by Bill Withers with Grover Washington Jr and released under Washington’s name in 1981
- Defendants named
- Capitol Records, Universal Music Group and Dean’s publishing companies
- Not named
- Olivia Dean and co-writers Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang
- Expert claim
- The complaint says a musicologist found “substantial similarities” between the songs.
- Response
- The defendants and Dean’s representatives had not publicly responded, according to the article.
Sources
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