The Police Legal Dispute: Sting's Battle Over Unpaid Fees with Bandmates Summers and Copeland
Sting's legal team is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with former bandmates Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland over alleged unpaid fees for the digital use of The Police's music. The duo claims that Sting owes them over $2 million in arranger's fees, while Sting's lawyers argue that a 2016 agreement may have actually resulted in overpayment to Summers and Copeland. The former bandmates are accusing Sting of failing to properly compensate them for the exploitation of their back catalog, but Sting's team contends that the agreement signed in 2016 was meant to resolve any past disputes regarding fees. Summers and Copeland assert that a verbal agreement made in 1977 entitles them to a percentage of publishing income from songs they wrote with the band, excluding covers and sheet music sales. The agreement was formalized in 1981 and revised in 1997, with the duo claiming they were underpaid for a significant period, while Sting maintains that he has consistently paid them fairly over the years.