Sting, the iconic frontman of The Police, is facing a high-profile legal challenge from his former bandmates, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, who have filed a lawsuit in London’s High Court. The suit, lodged on August 28, 2025, seeks what the plaintiffs describe as “millions in lost royalties” tied to the band’s 1983 global smash hit, “Every Breath You Take.” The dispute underscores long-standing tensions within one of the most successful rock acts of the late twentieth century and has reignited debate over songwriting credits and royalty distribution in the music industry.
According to reports from The Sun, Los Angeles Times, and Billboard, the legal action names Sting—whose real name is Gordon Matthew Sumner—and his publishing company, Magnetic Publishing Limited, as defendants. At the heart of the suit is the claim by Summers, 82, and Copeland, 73, that they were never properly credited as co-writers on “Every Breath You Take,” despite their significant creative input. The pair also allege that they never received royalties for their contributions to the song, which has generated substantial income over the decades.
The filing describes the damages as “substantial,” and a source close to the band told The Sun, “This has been coming for quite some time. Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate. Andy and Stewart decided there was no alternative than court so pressed the button. They say they are owed millions in lost royalties.”
“Every Breath You Take” is more than just another chart-topping single. Released in 1983, it spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, longer than any other song that year, and was the best-selling single of 1983. The track also won two Grammy Awards: Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. It remains the Police’s only U.S. No. 1 single and is widely recognized as one of the most played tracks in radio history.
Summers and Copeland argue that their roles in shaping the song’s signature sound—particularly Summers’ instantly recognizable guitar arpeggio—were critical to its enduring success. Despite this, they claim they have been excluded from both songwriting credits and the resulting royalty streams. According to Billboard, the issue of missing credits and compensation has simmered for years, with failed negotiation attempts preceding this legal escalation.
The financial stakes are significant. In 2023, Puff Daddy (now known as Diddy) stated publicly that he paid Sting $5,000 every day for sampling “Every Breath You Take” in his 1997 tribute to Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You,” although he later walked back the exact figure. That song, featuring Faith Evans, was itself a massive hit, topping charts globally and winning a Grammy Award, further boosting the value of the original Police recording. Summers and Copeland argue that they have not received any share of the licensing windfall generated by the sample’s use in “I’ll Be Missing You,” despite their creative input into the original composition.
The Police, founded in 1977 by Copeland, quickly became one of the world’s biggest bands, known for their blend of reggae-influenced rock and radio-friendly hits. Their run of success included five consecutive No. 1 albums in the U.K. and a string of global hits such as “Roxanne,” “Message in a Bottle,” “Walking on the Moon,” and “Don’t Stand So Close to Me.” The band’s final tour wrapped up in 1984, but they briefly reunited in 1986 for a re-recording of “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” and again for a 30th anniversary world tour in 2007-2008. Despite these reunions, underlying disputes over money and credit have never fully disappeared.
Sting’s business dealings have further complicated the situation. In 2022, he sold his entire song catalog—including both his solo work and his Police-era compositions—to Universal Music Publishing Group. While the exact terms of the deal were not officially disclosed, Billboard previously reported that Sting was seeking a deal valued at around $360 million, with annual royalty revenues estimated between $12 and $13 million. Other outlets, such as People, cited a lower but still substantial figure of $250 million. The sale was one of the most lucrative catalog acquisitions in recent memory, placing Sting’s work alongside other megastar catalogs snapped up by major music companies and private equity firms.
It remains unclear whether the current lawsuit could affect the terms or proceeds of that sale, but Summers and Copeland’s claims suggest they believe their exclusion from royalties has persisted across multiple business arrangements involving “Every Breath You Take.” Neither Sting’s representatives nor those for Summers and Copeland have issued public statements addressing the specifics of the lawsuit, leaving fans and industry observers to speculate about the outcome.
For many, the lawsuit is a reminder of the often-complex dynamics that can define creative partnerships. As Billboard notes, The Police’s chemistry was legendary—but so too were their disputes. Sting himself has reflected on the band’s brief 2007-2008 reunion, calling it “an exercise in nostalgia” and admitting in a 2021 interview with Reader’s Digest, “That’s not a slight on the people I was with or the way things panned out, it’s just how I saw it by the end, and let’s be honest, that’s not how I wanted to remember it. If I thought that would be the emotion I’d be leaving with, I wouldn’t have done it in the first place.”
The broader context of the case touches on issues faced by many musicians: the sometimes-blurry lines between songwriting, arrangement, and performance; the importance of proper credit and compensation; and the enduring value of hit songs in the age of catalog sales and streaming. The Police’s story, with its blend of creative brilliance and personal friction, continues to resonate as a cautionary tale—and a business lesson—for artists everywhere.
While the courts will ultimately decide the fate of Summers and Copeland’s claims, the case has already reignited interest in one of pop music’s most enduring legacies. As the legal process unfolds, fans and industry insiders alike are watching closely to see whether the former bandmates can finally resolve their differences—or if the wounds of the past will remain open for years to come.
