Olivia Dean faces lawsuit over song similarities with Withers hit

Olivia Dean is facing legal action over her song “I’ve Seen It,” with the music publisher of Bill Withers alleging that the track copies elements of his iconic 1981 hit “Just the Two of Us.”

A copyright infringement lawsuit was filed on Thursday, October 1, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Mattie Music Group, doing business as Bleunig Music, accused Universal Music Group, Capitol Records, Sony Music Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing of unlawfully using protected musical elements from Withers’ song.

The publisher described the similarities between the two tracks as “obvious and inescapable,” arguing that Dean’s song reproduces a substantial portion of the earlier composition.

According to the complaint, “I’ve Seen It” copied what Bleunig considers the “distinctively protectable melody” of “Just the Two of Us.” Withers co-wrote the 1981 song with Ralph MacDonald and William Salter while he was under contract with Bleunig Music.

The lawsuit claims that a musicologist hired by the publisher conducted an analysis of both songs and identified significant similarities in their melodies. Bleunig alleges that Dean’s track repeatedly follows the melodic structure of Withers’ composition, rather than merely sharing general musical characteristics.

The publisher also claims that it took steps to address the alleged infringement before filing the lawsuit. According to the complaint, Bleunig sent cease and desist letters to the four defendants in August, demanding that the use of “I’ve Seen It” stop. However, the publisher alleges that the defendants continued making the song available and using it despite receiving the notices.

Dean, along with her co-writers Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang, has not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Still, the complaint alleges that the three songwriters “had a reasonable opportunity to encounter” Withers’ song before writing and recording “I’ve Seen It.”

Bleunig is asking the court to permanently prevent further use of the song in its current form. The publisher is also seeking financial damages, legal fees and other costs connected to the case.

In addition, the lawsuit asks the court to order the defendants to seize and destroy existing copies of the allegedly infringing song. The legal action could therefore have financial and distribution consequences for the parties involved if the publisher’s claims are ultimately upheld.

Dean released “I’ve Seen It” on September 26, 2025, as part of her second studio album, “The Art of Loving.” The album marked another major release for the British singer-songwriter, who has continued to gain international attention through her music.

“Just the Two of Us,” meanwhile, was recorded by jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers providing the vocals. The song was released as a single in February 1981 and went on to become one of Withers’ best-known recordings.

The track achieved major commercial success, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned Washington Jr. and Withers a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in 1982.

The lawsuit will now determine whether the similarities identified by Bleunig amount to copyright infringement under U.S. law. For now, the allegations remain claims made in court, and the filing does not establish that Dean or the companies involved have been found liable for infringement.