Olivia Dean faces plagiarism lawsuit over song similarities to Bill Withers classic
British pop star Olivia Dean is accused of copying a Bill Withers melody in a copyright lawsuit filed in Los Angeles federal court.
Legal action targets record label
The complaint names Capitol Records and Universal Music Group as defendants in the case. Mattie Music Group, which manages Withers catalogue, alleges that Dean's track I've Seen It shares striking musical features with the 1981 hit Just The Two of Us.
Musicologist review finds similarities
A hired expert concluded the two works contain substantial similarities in protectable musical expression. The publishers claim they notified the record label about potential infringement in August but the music remained available for purchase.
No damages sought from singer
The lawsuit does not seek financial compensation from Dean or her co-writers Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang. To prove plagiarism, the plaintiff must show the writers had previously heard Withers original composition before creating their own song.
All 2 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- BBC News
- The Guardian
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2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.