Sting Sued by Former Police Bandmates Over Millions in Lost Royalties
The Police - Stewart Copeland, Sting And Andy Summers, The Gardens Club, Kensington, London, The Police - Stewart Copeland, Sting And Andy Summers, The Gardens Club, Kensington, London (Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images)
Former Police members Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland have filed a lawsuit against their former bandmate Sting, claiming they are owed millions in unpaid royalties. The legal action, now listed in London’s High Court, marks a major turning point in a long-standing financial dispute within the iconic rock trio.
According to The Sun, the move follows repeated but unsuccessful attempts to settle the matter privately.
“This has been coming for quite some time,” a source told The Sun. “Lawyers tried repeatedly to reach an out-of-court settlement but hit a stalemate. Andy and Stewart decided there was no alternative but the court, so they pressed the button.”
The source further explained the motivation behind the decision. They said:
“They say they are owed millions in lost royalties.
“The legal battle has been listed at London’s High Court under general commercial contracts and arrangements.”
The Song That Keeps Paying — But Only to Sting
At the heart of the lawsuit is “Every Breath You Take,” one of The Police’s most commercially successful and enduring tracks. Although Sting is credited as the sole songwriter, both Summers and Copeland contributed significantly to the song’s arrangement and performance, yet have reportedly not received royalties from its continued success.
The financial disparity became even more apparent in 1997 when Puff Daddy (now Diddy) sampled the track for his hit “I’ll Be Missing You,” a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. Despite the single’s global success, only Sting received royalties from it.
According to Ultimate Classic Rock, Sting continues to earn thousands of dollars per day from that song alone, thanks to the sampling deal.
WROR reported that Summers and Copeland were not compensated for their work on “Every Breath You Take” or other major Police songs, despite being instrumental to the band’s success.
Collaborative Efforts and Broader Industry Impact
The lawsuit highlights broader concerns within the music industry regarding the distribution of songwriting credits and royalties among band members. While one individual may be officially credited as the songwriter, the collaborative nature of band dynamics often blurs the lines of true creative contribution.
Although the conflict between Sting, Summers, and Copeland has largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years, reports suggest that tensions have steadily intensified. 112 International noted the growing strain, indicating that the disagreement has now reached a critical point.
This High Court case has the potential not only to reshape the legacy of The Police but also to influence how collaborative contributions are recognized legally—particularly in situations where one member receives the majority of credit and financial reward despite shared creative input.
