Olivia Dean song ‘I’ve Seen It’ faces copyright lawsuit over Bill Withers classic
Mattie Music Group alleges track copies the “distinct melody” of ‘Just the Two of Us’; singer not named as defendant
Lawsuit claims Dean’s track copies the “distinct melody” of ‘Just the Two of Us’; singer and her co-writers are not named as defendants
Olivia Dean’s song “I’ve Seen It” has become the subject of a new copyright lawsuit after a music company alleged that the track substantially copies the melody of Bill Withers’ iconic 1981 hit “Just the Two of Us.” Dean herself, however, is not named as a defendant in the case.
The lawsuit was filed in California on October 1 by Mattie Music Group, which had the late Withers under contract as a songwriter. The company named Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, Sony Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing America as defendants.
Dean’s co-writers, Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang, are also not named in the lawsuit.
According to the court filing, Mattie Music Group claims that “I’ve Seen It” borrows the “distinct melody” of “Just the Two of Us.” The company alleges that the similarities between the two songs are so significant that they cannot reasonably be attributed to coincidence.
The filing, as reported by People, states that Mattie Music Group first became aware of “I’ve Seen It” in August 2026. After listening to the song several times, the company claims it reached the “obvious and inescapable conclusion” that the track copied “Just the Two of Us” in a large and significant part.
The lawsuit further alleges that Dean’s co-writers had a “reasonable opportunity to encounter” Withers’ song before creating “I’ve Seen It.” Mattie Music Group is seeking damages and has requested a trial to determine the amount of compensation, according to the filing.
“Just the Two of Us,” released in February 1981, was written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald and William Salter. The song became one of Withers’ best-known works, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
Dean, 27, released “I’ve Seen It” as the closing track of her 2025 breakthrough album, “The Art of Loving.” The song has since become one of the tracks at the center of the copyright dispute.
Copyright lawsuits involving major recording artists have produced different outcomes in recent years. Dua Lipa won a copyright case concerning “Levitating” in 2025, while Ed Sheeran was cleared in 2023 in a lawsuit alleging that his song “Thinking Out Loud” infringed copyright in Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
The allegations against the parties in the latest case have not been proven in court, and the filing represents Mattie Music Group’s claims. A court will ultimately determine whether copyright infringement occurred and whether any damages are owed.