Withers Estate Sues Capitol Records Over Alleged Olivia Dean Melody Copy

Key points

• Mattie Music Group filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on October 1, 2026.
• The complaint alleges that Olivia Dean’s 'I’ve Seen It' from her album 'The Art of Loving' copies the melody of Bill Withers’ 1981 hit 'Just the Two of Us' in large and significant part.
• Defendants named in the suit include Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, and Kobalt Music Publishing America; Olivia Dean and her co-writers are not named.
• Mattie Music Group hired musicologist Alexander Stewart, who concluded the songs contain 'substantial similarities' in protectable musical expression, including repeated copying of a distinctively protectable melody.
• The plaintiff claims it provided written notice of the alleged infringement to defendants on August 17, 2026, but they continued to reproduce, distribute, and commercially exploit the song.
• The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial and a permanent injunction to restrain further acts of copyright infringement.

Background

This lawsuit follows earlier coverage from October 2-3, 2026, which reported the initial filing by Mattie Music Group and the lack of response from defendants. The dispute centers on whether the melodic similarities between the two songs constitute copyright infringement or independent creation, a common issue in music copyright cases. Olivia Dean’s album 'The Art of Loving' was released in September 2025 and achieved significant commercial success, including No. 1 in the UK and No. 3 in the US.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News, BBC, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian all report the core facts of the lawsuit, including the defendants named, the musicologist’s findings, and the August notice. Rolling Stone emphasizes the 'obvious and inescapable' nature of the similarities as described in the complaint. The Guardian provides additional detail on the musicologist’s name (Alexander Stewart) and the specific publishers named. BBC notes that the lawsuit does not seek damages from Dean or her co-writers, Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang. All outlets report that defendants have not responded to requests for comment, with Billboard noting a Kobalt representative declined to comment. There is no disagreement on the facts, but emphasis varies: Rolling Stone focuses on the legal language of the complaint, while BBC highlights the commercial success of both songs and the lack of response from Dean’s representatives.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions in the music industry over copyright infringement, particularly when new songs are accused of copying classic hits. The outcome could set a precedent for how melodic similarities are evaluated in court and may affect how labels and publishers handle potential infringement claims. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of labels and publishers when notified of potential copyright issues, as the suit alleges they continued distribution despite notice.

What to watch

The defendants, including Capitol Records and Universal Music Group, are expected to respond to the lawsuit in the coming weeks. The case will likely proceed to discovery, where the musicologist’s analysis and evidence of prior exposure to 'Just the Two of Us' will be examined. A trial may be scheduled if the case is not settled, with damages and an injunction as potential outcomes. Olivia Dean and her co-writers, though not named, may be involved in the proceedings as the song’s creators.