Sting sued by The Police bandmates

2025-08-29 by Voivod STAFF | 14 Comments
According to The Guardian, Andy Summers and Stewart Copland have filed a law suit at the High Court of London, against Sting aka Gordon Matthew Sumner.

Summers and Copland claim royalty stakes for the massive hit "Every Breath You Take", as well as compensation for their writing contributions in the band.

A spokesperson for Sting stated that the spirit of this legal motion is immaterial to a portion of its letter, without giving more details.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/aug/27/sting-sued-by-former-police-bandmates-over-alleged-lost-royalties

Tagged: The Police

Comments:Add a Comment 
Voivod
Staff Reviewer
August 29th 2025
11609 Comments


This is probably a music industry "first world problem", it's interesting though in terms of "why know?”

The last few paragraphs listing artists who sold their back catalogues to music conglomerates and streaming services may hold the answer, in the sense that a negotiation may soon be set in motion for The Police back catalogue.

ToSmokMuzyki
August 29th 2025
15102 Comments


damn that must...sting!

ArsMoriendi
August 29th 2025
42368 Comments


After reading the article, I’m with Andy and Stewart. Sting made millions selling all songs he wrote for The Police to a music corporation, so it’s unfair for them to not get a cent over the songs they helped write

Like if all 3 members wrote Every Breath You Take, why should Sting be the only one to make literal millions due to its success

smaugman
August 29th 2025
5757 Comments


copeland seems like a nice guy so he's probably in the right. guess we'll never see a reunion

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
August 29th 2025
11609 Comments


-- Sting made millions selling all songs he wrote for The Police to a music corporation

I think this is about Sting's solo work, not The Police songs, which is why I think Summers and Copland are formally expressing their claims in the law suit, before a probable negotiation of the sort for The Police back catalogue.



Edit: turns out the agreement involved The Police songs as well…

tinathefatlard
August 29th 2025
2112 Comments


This guy’s a gangsta? His real name is Gordon.

KevinKC
August 31st 2025
1599 Comments


The Police 1978: Outlandos d'amour.
The Police 1983: Synchronicity.

The Police 42 years later: "Hey ! Actually Sting, you scammed us !"



StonedManatee
September 4th 2025
644 Comments


Sounds like this is over the 300 million dollar payment

PunkerBlast
September 5th 2025
1297 Comments


Is it that much? 41 years of good will and then HEY WAIT!!!! Sting, I think you ripped off your bandmates who are still alive too.

gabba
September 5th 2025
2896 Comments


I’m sure if you play Every Breath You Take backwards, Sting will need to pay royalities back one by one. So, everyone feeling sorry for poor Andy and Steve, just jam Ekat Uoy Htaerb Yreve as many times as possible.

StrizzMatik
September 7th 2025
4232 Comments


They've got a point. The riff itself is iconic and a primary reason it was so huge, especially when Diddy sampled it for his Biggie death grift song

PunkerBlast
September 9th 2025
1297 Comments


Oh yeah that Diddy Song, man Rush Hour 2. Who even owns that franchise anymore? Brett Rattmer, Jackie Chan? I heard Jackie Chan was open to trying a fourth recently, but Jackie Chan fell a victim to his own gov't.

I feel like life is so advanced in ways now, but I decided to bury myself in ways and gave up. At least the band members of Sting 42 years later!!!!!! Hey WAIT A moment. I have to go back to that, maybe they were waiting just for the moment where a copyright could expire, like Mickey Mouse.

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
January 15th 2026
11609 Comments


Sting paid just a fraction of the total claim…

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn42lp1135vo

oltnabrick
January 15th 2026
41107 Comments


Thank you for the update, I’ve been refreshing this page for over 4 months



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