Full Breakdown
Olivia Dean Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over “I’ve Seen It”
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Plaintiffs Claim Infringement of Bill Withers’ “Just the Two of Us”
A copyright infringement complaint was filed in federal court in early October, alleging that Olivia Dean’s closing track “I’ve Seen It” from her 2025 album *The Art of Loving* copies a “distinctively protectable melody” from Bill Withers’ 1980-81 hit “Just the Two of Us.” The lawsuit is brought by Matt Music Group, the publisher that administers Withers’ catalog, together with Bleunig Music, another Withers rights holder. The complaint names Dean’s record label Capitol Records, its parent Universal Music Group, and several of Dean’s publishing entities—including Sony Music Publishing and Kobalt—as defendants. Dean herself is not named as a defendant.
Background & Context
Olivia Dean is a British pop and R&B singer who rose to prominence with her Brit-Award-winning 2025 album *The Art of Loving*. Bill Withers, the late American soul singer-songwriter, co-wrote “Just the Two of Us” for saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.’s 1980 album *Winelight*. The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1981, won the Grammy for Best R&B Song, and has accumulated nearly a billion Spotify streams.
Timeline
Data & Statistics
- Dean’s “I’ve Seen It” has been streamed roughly 246 million times on Spotify.
- Withers’ original “Just the Two of Us” has amassed more than 948 million Spotify streams.
- *The Art of Loving* was certified gold in the United States and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in January, remaining on the chart for over 52 weeks.
- The album’s breakout singles helped Dean earn Billboard’s Rookie of the Year award in 2025.
Official Statements & Responses
The plaintiffs contend that the long-standing commercial success of “Just the Two of Us”—including decades of radio play, Grammy recognition and extensive streaming—means that Dean, co-writers Bastian Langebæk (also spelled Bastian Langebaek) and Max Wolfgang, had a “reasonable opportunity” to encounter the original work before creating “I’ve Seen It.” The complaint seeks damages to be determined at trial.
Representatives for Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing, Kobalt and Olivia Dean have not responded to requests for comment. Rolling Stone notes that a Rolling Stone representative for UMG also did not reply.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Filing venue: Rolling Stone reports the case was filed in a Los Angeles federal court, while Complex states the suit was lodged in Manhattan federal court.
- Defendant list: Some sources list Sony Music Publishing and Kobalt as defendants; others mention only Capitol Records and Universal Music Group. No official clarification has been provided.
- Co-writer spelling: The co-writer’s surname appears as “Langebæk,” “Langebaek” and “Bangebæk” across different reports, indicating inconsistent reporting of the same individual.
What’s Next
The complaint indicates that damages will be decided at trial, but no hearing date has been set. The parties’ pending responses and the court’s scheduling will determine when the case proceeds.
