Summers and Copeland sue Sting over Every Breath You Take credits

Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland have filed a High Court lawsuit in London against their former bandmate Sting, alleging they were denied songwriting credits and millions of pounds in royalties for the Police hit Every Breath You Take. Court records list the defendant as Gordon Matthew Sumner, Sting's legal name, and his company Magnetic Publishing Limited. The writ is recorded in the court database under general commercial contracts and arrangements.

Summers and Copeland contend they were never properly credited as co‑writers on the 1983 single, and therefore have not received a share of the song's substantial earnings. Reports have put Sting's annual income from the song at roughly £550,000, with alternative estimates converting that to about $740,000 a year; media accounts differ on the precise figure. The pair are seeking compensation for what they describe as lost royalties accrued since the song's release.

Every Breath You Take was issued as the lead single from the Police's album Synchronicity, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks, won multiple Grammy Awards and became one of the decade's best‑selling singles. Its distinctive arpeggiated guitar figure, which...