Withers Estate Sues Capitol Records Over Alleged Olivia Dean Copyright Infringement

Key points

• Mattie Music Group filed a federal copyright lawsuit in Los Angeles on October 1, 2026, alleging that Olivia Dean’s song 'I've Seen It' copies the melody of Bill Withers’ 1981 hit 'Just the Two of Us.'
• The lawsuit names Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, and Kobalt Music Publishing America as defendants, but does not sue Olivia Dean or her co-writers, Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang.
• Mattie Music Group hired musicologist Alexander Stewart, Ph.D., who concluded that the two songs share 'substantial similarities' in 'distinctively protectable melody,' stating the similarities are 'obvious and inescapable.'
• The plaintiff claims it notified the defendants of the alleged infringement on August 17, 2026, but they continued to distribute, license, and commercially exploit 'I've Seen It' without changing credits or pulling the song.
• The lawsuit seeks damages to be determined at trial and a permanent injunction to stop further alleged infringement, while the defendants have not yet responded to the filing.

Background

Olivia Dean’s album 'The Art of Loving,' released in September 2025, reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 3 in the US, earning her the Grammy for Best New Artist in February 2026 and four Brit Awards, including Album of the Year. 'I've Seen It' is the closing track of the album and has been streamed approximately 246 million times on Spotify. Bill Withers, who co-wrote 'Just the Two of Us' with Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, died in March 2020 at age 81. The 1981 song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for Best R&B Song. Mattie Music Group, named after Withers’ late mother and run by his widow Marcia Johnson, administers his catalog.

How outlets are covering it

All four outlets report the core facts of the lawsuit consistently. The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone emphasize the musicologist’s conclusion that the similarities are 'obvious and inescapable' and that the defendants continued distribution after notice. The BBC highlights that the lawsuit targets the label and publishers, not Dean herself, and notes that proving plagiarism requires showing Dean and her co-writers had a 'reasonable opportunity' to encounter the original song. The Guardian adds that the lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction and notes that 'Just the Two of Us' experienced a recent resurgence on TikTok. No outlet reports a response from the defendants as of the filing date.

Why it matters

The case tests the boundaries of copyright infringement in modern pop music, particularly regarding melodic similarity between a contemporary hit and a classic R&B track. It highlights the legal risks for major labels and publishers when they continue distributing music after receiving notice of alleged infringement, even if the artist is not named as a defendant. The outcome could set a precedent for how 'substantial similarities' are evaluated in court and whether continued distribution after notice constitutes willful infringement.

What to watch

The defendants, including Capitol Records and Universal Music Group, are expected to respond to the lawsuit. The case will likely proceed to discovery, where the musicological analysis and evidence of prior exposure to 'Just the Two of Us' will be scrutinized. A trial may be necessary to determine damages, and the court may issue an injunction if infringement is proven. The song may be pulled from distribution if the plaintiff prevails.