Sting Sued by Ex-Police Bandmates Over Royalties: A Legal Reminder for All Musicians
Recent news of Sting being sued by his former Police bandmates, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers, has reignited discussions across the music industry around royalty entitlements, contractual clarity, and the long-term implications of intellectual property rights.
While the case itself pertains to a globally successful act, the legal principles underpinning the dispute are highly relevant to artists, producers, composers, and music businesses at all levels.
At Tidman Legal, we act for a wide range of music clients, from emerging bands and session musicians to established acts, publishers and independent labels. With that in mind, this high-profile case offers a timely opportunity to highlight key legal issues and best practices.
Background: Royalties & Historical Rights
Although full court documents have yet to be made public, reports indicate that Copeland and Summers are seeking a greater share of royalties from The Police's back catalogue. At the heart of the claim is the allocation of songwriting and publishing rights, which historically have disproportionately favoured Sting.
This scenario is not uncommon. In many band settings, only one member (often the lyricist or lead songwriter) is formally credited, even though other members may feel they made significant creative contributions. Without explicit contractual agreements stating otherwise, UK law will generally favour the credited author(s) for both ownership and royalty purposes.
Legal Considerations in a UK Music Royalties Dispute
Whether you are an established act or just starting out, here are some important legal considerations drawn from this case:
1. Formalise All Agreements (Even With Friends)
Too often, music is created under informal arrangements, particularly in the early stages of a project or band. However, disputes frequently arise when success (and revenue) follow. We recommend that all collaborations, whether co-writing, recording, or producing, are governed by clear written agreements, covering rights ownership, royalty splits, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
2. Understand Copyright Ownership
In UK law, copyright in a musical work typically vests in the composer(s) and lyricist(s). Performance contributions alone do not entitle a party to songwriting royalties, unless otherwise agreed. This often leads to misunderstandings, particularly where musical arrangements, riffs, or production elements were critical to the track's success.
To avoid future conflict, creators should consider using split sheets and clearly assigning shares for each work registered with PRS for Music, MCPS, or similar bodies.
3. Consider Historical Works and Legacy Rights
As this case demonstrates, even decades-old songs can generate significant income. If your catalogue includes older works that were never properly documented or assigned, it may be advisable to undertake a catalogue audit. This can uncover potential inconsistencies in rights allocation or registration that may require rectification.
4. Royalty Tracking and Payment Transparency
Ensure all rights are correctly registered with relevant collection societies, and monitor incoming royalties. Discrepancies in collection or distribution should be addressed promptly. For clients with extensive works, conducting routine royalty and rights administration audits is sensible.
How We Support Music Clients
At Tidman Legal, we provide tailored legal services for creatives across the UK music industry, including drafting and reviewing publishing, recording, and band agreements, advising on co-writing splits and joint authorship, handling rights assignments and IP disputes, and representing clients in royalty recovery.
The Sting lawsuit may play out in court, but the underlying issue is one we encounter regularly: a lack of clarity around rights and royalties. In many cases, these matters could have been resolved, or entirely avoided, by early legal input and comprehensive agreements.
Make an Enquiry Now
For advice on how to avoid a music royalties dispute in the UK, or check your agreements reflect your actual contributions, call one of our intellectual property experts on 0131 478 4724 or complete an Online Enquiry.
We have helped hundreds of individuals and businesses.
Please note the contents of this blog is given for information only and must not be relied upon. Legal advice should always be sought in relation to your specific circumstances.
