Drumming News :
Former Police members Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers have filed a lawsuit against Sting, alleging that the frontman owes them millions in unpaid royalties from the band’s catalog, including hits like “Every Breath You Take”and “Roxanne.” The case, lodged in London’s High Court, centers on decades-old royalty agreements and disputes over how earnings from the band’s music—especially in the digital age—should be divided.
Allegations in the Lawsuit
- Unpaid Royalties: Copeland and Summers claim Sting owes them more than $2 million for their contributions to The Police’s music, including royalties from digital streams and online use.
- Uncredited Songwriting: They argue they were not properly credited or compensated for their creative input on several songs, most notably “Every Breath You Take.”
- Royalty Type Dispute: The core issue lies in how royalty categories are interpreted. The pair say they are entitled to both performance royalties (for radio, streaming, and public play) and mechanical royalties (for physical and digital reproductions). Sting contends that their agreement only covers mechanical royalties.
Sting’s Defense
- Claims of Overpayment: Sting’s attorneys argue that Copeland and Summers have been “substantially overpaid” under existing agreements.
- 1977 Agreement: When The Police formed, Sting—real name Gordon Sumner—reportedly agreed to share 15% of publishing income from songs he wrote to “keep things sweet” between the bandmates.
- 2016 Settlement: Sting’s legal team cites a 2016 agreement intended to resolve all past and future royalty disputes. They call the current case an “illegitimate attempt” to reinterpret that deal.
Background
Formed in 1977, The Police became one of rock’s biggest acts, earning six Grammy Awards and selling tens of millions of albums before disbanding in 1984. Despite their success, the trio’s relationship was often volatile. Summers and Copeland maintain that they were essential to the band’s sound—Summers famously created the iconic guitar riff for “Every Breath You Take.”
The legal filings trace a complex history of royalty arrangements—oral, written, and revised over the decades—as music distribution evolved from vinyl to streaming. The latest dispute hinges on what counts as “digital exploitation” of the band’s catalog and whether Sting is obligated to share income from online platforms.
An administrative hearing is scheduled for January 2026. Representatives for all three musicians have declined to comment.
Despite their rocky history, The Police’s legacy endures—“Every Breath You Take” has been streamed billions of times and remains one of the most-played songs in modern music history.
