Lawsuit Claims Olivia Dean's 'I've Seen It' Copies Bill Withers Classic

Key points

• Mattie Music Group filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles on October 1, 2026.
• The suit alleges that Olivia Dean's song 'I've Seen It' from the album 'The Art of Loving' copies the melody of Bill Withers' 1981 hit 'Just the Two of Us.'
• The defendants named in the lawsuit are Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, and Kobalt Music Publishing; Olivia Dean and her co-writers are not named as defendants.
• Mattie Music Group hired musicologist Alexander Stewart, who concluded that the two songs contain 'substantial similarities' in protectable musical expression.
• The plaintiff claims it notified the defendants of the alleged infringement on August 17, 2026, but they continued to distribute and commercially exploit the song.
• The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial and an injunction to stop further infringement.

Background

Olivia Dean's album 'The Art of Loving' was released in September 2025 and became a major commercial success, reaching number one in the UK and number three in the US. Dean won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in February 2026. Bill Withers, who died in 2020, co-wrote 'Just the Two of Us' with Grover Washington Jr. The song won the Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1981 and has seen renewed popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. Mattie Music Group, named after Withers' mother, administers his catalog and is run by his widow, Marcia Johnson.

How outlets are covering it

Rolling Stone, BBC, The Guardian, and Billboard all report on the lawsuit filed by Mattie Music Group. All outlets agree that the lawsuit targets Dean's label and publishers, not Dean herself, and that a musicologist was hired to analyze the similarities between the two songs. Rolling Stone and Billboard emphasize the 'obvious and inescapable' nature of the alleged copying as described in the lawsuit. The Guardian provides additional detail on the specific publishers named, including Kobalt Music Publishing America. BBC notes that 'I've Seen It' has been streamed over 246 million times on Spotify, while 'Just the Two of Us' has over 948 million plays. All outlets note that the defendants have not yet responded to the lawsuit or requests for comment.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions in the music industry regarding copyright infringement and the use of classic melodies in new songs. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of record labels and publishers in ensuring that new releases do not infringe on existing copyrights. The case could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in the future, particularly as social media platforms continue to drive the popularity of older songs.

What to watch

The next steps in this case will likely involve the defendants responding to the lawsuit and potentially engaging in discovery. The case may also lead to a settlement or a trial, where the similarities between the two songs will be closely examined. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the music industry and the way that copyright infringement is handled in the future.