Olivia Dean is facing allegations of copyright infringement regarding the iconic song “Just the Two of Us” by Bill Withers. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in a federal court in Los Angeles, was brought forth by the owners of Withers’ musical catalog.
The Mattie Music Group, which manages the estate of Withers, claims that Dean’s song “I’ve Seen It” contains significant portions that are derived from the 1981 classic, a collaboration with Grover Washington Jr. This original track previously reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has recently regained popularity on TikTok.
The lawsuit states, “In early August 2026, after multiple listens to ‘I’ve Seen It,’ the plaintiff’s representatives concluded that the song substantially copied ‘Just the Two of Us,’ including the repeated usage of its distinctive melody, thereby infringing on the copyrights of the original work.”
To bolster their claim, the Mattie Music Group enlisted musicologist Alexander Stewart to conduct a thorough analysis of both songs. Stewart reportedly found significant similarities in the musical expressions of the two pieces, which, according to the lawsuit, are too pronounced to be attributed to mere coincidence or common musical influences.
While the lawsuit does not name Dean or her collaborators, Bastian Langbaek and Max Wolfgang, as defendants, it suggests that the trio had ample opportunity to become familiar with the original song prior to creating “I’ve Seen It,” which is featured on Dean’s 2025 album, “The Art of Loving.”
Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Sony Music Publishing and Capitol Records, Dean’s publisher and record label, respectively, as well as Kobalt Music Publishing America, which represents Wolfgang.
The suit claims that on August 17, the plaintiff issued written notice to all defendants outlining the registration details, the disputed composition, and the musical similarities in question. However, it alleges that the defendants continued to reproduce, distribute, and commercially exploit “I’ve Seen It.”
In addition to seeking damages, the lawsuit calls for an injunction to prevent any further copyright infringement by the defendants.
As of Friday, representatives for Dean, Capitol Records, and Kobalt had not responded to requests for comments from the Guardian. Billboard reported that a representative from Kobalt declined to comment on the matter.
Olivia Dean, 27, gained recognition in February when she won the Grammy for Best New Artist. The London singer-songwriter has also secured four Brit Awards, including Album of the Year for “The Art of Loving.” Notably, her collaboration with Sam Fender, “Rein Me In,” became the longest-running No. 1 single in UK history on July 31.
Bill Withers, a three-time Grammy winner originally from Slab Fork, West Virginia, won the 1981 Grammy for Best R&B Song for “Just the Two of Us.” After his passing in March 2020 at the age of 81, the Mattie Music Group, named after his late mother and managed by his widow Marcia Johnson, took over the administration of his estate.
