In a striking escalation of long-standing tensions, The Police’s guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland have filed a lawsuit against lead singer Sting—real name Gordon Matthew Sumner—and his company, Magnetic Publishing Ltd. The legal action, lodged in London’s High Court, claims the duo never received songwriting credits or royalties for their contributions to the band’s seminal hit “Every Breath You Take.”
Though Sting remains officially credited as the sole writer, Summers and Copeland assert that his iconic guitar riff and collaborative influence were central to the song’s creation—and that their compensation should reflect it. They say previous attempts to negotiate an out-of-court agreement stalled, leaving court proceedings as the only available recourse.
Reportedly, Sting earns more than £550,000 annually from the track alone, a figure that underscores the financial weight of the dispute. The lawsuit is described as centering on “general commercial contracts and arrangements,” and while a representative for Sting said it isn’t tied specifically to that song, no further details were provided.
This lawsuit threatens to re-open old wounds from the band’s dissolution in 1984 and subsequent reunion attempts. At its core, it’s not only a battle over money—but a struggle for recognition in the legacy of a song that shaped rock history.
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