Sting Being Sued by Former Police Bandmates over Lost Royalties: Reports

Sting is reportedly being sued by his former Police bandmates over missing royalties.

The Sun was the first to report that guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland issued Sting, 73, with a High Court writ. London High Court’s database, which was viewed by PEOPLE, lists the documents as “general commercial contracts and arrangements.”

Per The Daily Mail, Sting earns £550,000 annually in royalties for the 1983 song “Every Breath You Take,” which was the fifth-best-selling song of the decade and the best-selling song that year. Copeland, 73, and Summers, 82, allege that they did not receive cowriting credits on the song or any royalties.

Sting is listed as a defendant under Gordon Matthew Sumner in the lawsuit, along with his firm Magnetic Publishing Limited.

PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Sting, Copeland and Summers and did not receive an immediate response.

Sting told PEOPLE in May 2023 about the inspiration behind major Police hits, including “Every Breath You Take,” which was written when he was staying at a house in Jamaica that was previously owned by Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond book series.

“I would sit at his desk at night and try and write songs,” he said at the time.

“I think if the song has any power at all, it’s ambivalent. It could be sinister or it could be quite warm and sweet and nice, and people have both of those interpretations. And I would never contradict anyone who has a different interpretation of any of my songs because in many ways, that enriches the song.”

Reflecting on writing the song, he considered the international spy’s impact. “Maybe the ghost of James Bond is in that song, you know? He’s our guy, but he also kills people,” Sting said.

“There’s this duality that I think is in the song, and I think that’s why it’s so successful. Some people get married to that song, so I’m not going to contradict people.”

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The Police was formed in 1977 in London. They broke up after five albums in 1984 and would sporadically reunite for one-off reunions. The British rock band went on a reunion world tour from 2007 to 2008.

Throughout their tenure, the band earned eight Grammy nominations and won five, including Best Rock Instrumental Performance for Reggatta De Blanc in 1981, along with Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocal for “Every Breath You Take” in and Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal for the album Synchronicity in 1984.

They were perhaps best known for their songs “Every Breath You Take,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” “Roxanne” and “Message in a Bottle.”