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Olivia Dean faces lawsuit over song similarities with Withers hit. October 3, 2026 Summary. * Olivia Dean is facing legal action over her song "I've Seen It," with the music publisher of Bill Withers alleging that the track copies elements of his iconic 1981 hit "Just the Two of Us." A copyright infringement lawsuit was filed on Thursday, October 1, in the U.S. * According to the complaint, "I've Seen It" copied what Bleunig considers the "distinctively protectable melody" of "Just the Two of Us." Withers co-wrote the 1981 song with Ralph MacDonald and William Salter while he was under contract with Bleunig Music. * Still, the complaint alleges that the three songwriters "had a reasonable opportunity to encounter" Withers' song before writing and recording "I've Seen It." Bleunig is asking the court to permanently prevent further use of the song in its current form. AI Generated Summary Olivia Dean is facing legal action over her song "I've Seen It," with the music publisher of Bill Withers alleging that the track copies elements of his iconic 1981 hit "Just the Two of Us." A copyright infringement lawsuit was filed on Thursday, October 1, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Mattie Music Group, doing business as Bleunig Music, accused Universal Music Group, Capitol Records, Sony Music Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing of unlawfully using protected musical elements from Withers' song. The publisher described the similarities between the two tracks as "obvious and inescapable," arguing that Dean's song reproduces a substantial portion of the earlier composition. According to the complaint, "I've Seen It" copied what Bleunig considers the "distinctively protectable melody" of "Just the Two of Us." Withers co-wrote the 1981 song with Ralph MacDonald and William Salter while he was under contract with Bleunig Music. The lawsuit claims that a musicologist hired by the publisher conducted an analysis of both songs and identified significant similarities in their melodies. Bleunig alleges that Dean's track repeatedly follows the melodic structure of Withers' composition, rather than merely sharing general musical characteristics. The publisher also claims that it took steps to address the alleged infringement before filing the lawsuit. According to the complaint, Bleunig sent cease and desist letters to the four defendants in August, demanding that the use of "I've Seen It" stop. However, the publisher alleges that the defendants continued making the song available and using it despite receiving the notices. Dean, along with her co-writers Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang, has not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Still, the complaint alleges that the three songwriters "had a reasonable opportunity to encounter" Withers' song before writing and recording "I've Seen It." Bleunig is asking the court to permanently prevent further use of the song in its current form. The publisher is also seeking financial damages, legal fees and other costs connected to the case. In addition, the lawsuit asks the court to order the defendants to seize and destroy existing copies of the allegedly infringing song. The legal action could therefore have financial and distribution consequences for the parties involved if the publisher's claims are ultimately upheld. Dean released "I've Seen It" on September 26, 2025, as part of her second studio album, "The Art of Loving." The album marked another major release for the British singer-songwriter, who has continued to gain international attention through her music. "Just the Two of Us," meanwhile, was recorded by jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers providing the vocals. The song was released as a single in February 1981 and went on to become one of Withers' best-known recordings. The track achieved major commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned Washington Jr. and Withers a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1982. The lawsuit will now determine whether the similarities identified by Bleunig amount to copyright infringement under U.S. law. For now, the allegations remain claims made in court, and the filing does not establish that Dean or the companies involved have been found liable for infringement. Minute Mirror welcome your contributions! Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases, news story pitches, and news features to [email protected] and [email protected] Ad powered by advergic.com Follow US. FacebookLike InstagramFollow YoutubeSubscribe LinkedInFollow October 3, 2026

Amy Ortner and Samantha Rhulen land on Variety's Music Legal Elite 2026 list. Published on 27 July 2026 Congratulations to Primary Wave's very own Amy Ortner and Samantha Rhulen for making Variety's Music Legal Elite 2026 list! Primary Wave's proposed $7 billion acquisition of Kobalt was among the year's most closely watched music-business deals, with Ortner helping guide the transaction. Her purview extended to Primary Wave's strategic alliance with Pops Music in Southeast Asia and the acquisition of Gilberto Gil's publishing and music catalogs. Rhulen closed some of the largest deals in Primary Wave's history, including partnerships with Pete Townshend and INXS, while helping lead the company's first acquisitions in regional Mexican music. She also worked on a forthcoming Def Leppard documentary and the restoration of James Brown's South Carolina home as a visitor attraction. They have also helped to develop projects tied to Whitney Houston, Bob Marley and the Doors while advancing the forthcoming "Purple Rain" musical, based on Prince's catalog.