Olivia Dean Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over Bill Withers’ Hit

London-based singer-songwriter Olivia Dean is facing a federal copyright infringement lawsuit over her song I’ve Seen It, which appears on her 2025 album The Art of Loving. The lawsuit, filed by Bill Withers’ publisher Mattie Music Group, alleges the track copies a distinctive melody from Withers’ 1981 Grammy-winning classic Just the Two of Us. The case was brought to a Los Angeles court on October 1, with no response yet from Dean or her label, Universal Music Group (UMG).

The complaint centers on claims that I’ve Seen It shares "substantial similarities" with Just the Two of Us, particularly in its protectable melody. A musicologist hired by Mattie Music Group found the two songs contain "repeated copying of the distinctively protectable melody," with the lawsuit arguing the similarities are too striking to be coincidental. While Dean and her co-writers—Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang—are not named as defendants, the lawsuit targets Capitol Records, UMG, and Dean’s publishing companies, seeking damages to be determined at trial.

The Songs in Question

• Bill Withers – Just the Two of Us (1981): A soulful duet with jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., the song won a Grammy and became one of Withers’ most enduring hits, frequently sampled and covered over the decades.
• Olivia Dean – I’ve Seen It (2025): The closing track from Dean’s sophomore album The Art of Loving, which earned her a Grammy for Best New Artist in 2026 and spawned hits like Man I Need and So Easy (To Fall in Love).

Mattie Music Group claims it first notified the defendants of the alleged infringement on August 17, but the song continued to be distributed without changes to its credits. The publisher’s decision to pursue legal action suggests frustration over the lack of resolution, though such disputes often lead to retroactive settlements or credit adjustments.

Who Is Olivia Dean?

Dean, 24, rose to prominence with her debut album Messy in 2023 before solidifying her status as a breakout star with The Art of Loving. Known for her soulful pop sound and introspective lyrics, she has drawn comparisons to artists like Amy Winehouse and Adele. Her collaboration with Sam Fender, Rein Me In, recently broke records as the UK’s longest-running No. 1 single, surpassing Frankie Laine’s 1953 classic I Believe.

What Happens Next?

The lawsuit does not specify a trial date, and UMG or Dean’s team have yet to comment publicly. If the case proceeds, it could result in financial penalties for the defendants or a court-ordered adjustment to the song’s credits. For fans, the dispute raises questions about the originality of I’ve Seen It, though Dean’s broader catalog remains unaffected.

Listeners can compare the two tracks themselves—Just the Two of Us and I’ve Seen It—to form their own opinions on the alleged similarities. Meanwhile, The Art of Loving continues to stream, with Dean’s tour dates and future releases still on the horizon.