Olivia Dean accused of copying Bill Withers' classic in copyright lawsuit

British singer Olivia Dean's label and publishing company are being sued over her hit song ‘I’ve Seen It’ by the publishers of late blues artist Bill Withers.

The legal action claims the song, which features on Dean's 2025 album The Art of Loving, is similar to Withers' 1981 classic 'Just The Two Of Us'.

Mattie Music Group, which manages Withers' catalogue, filed the case in California, alleging that the two songs share musical features that are too similar to have happened by coincidence.

According to legal documents seen by the BBC, the publisher hired a musicologist to examine the tracks.

Their analysis allegedly found 'substantial similarities' between the two works, including what the complaint describes as repeated copying of the melody from 'Just The Two Of Us'.

The lawsuit names 27-year-old Dean's record label Capitol Records, its parent company Universal Music Group and her publishing companies as defendants.

Dean has not been named as a defendant (JMEnternational/Getty Images)

Dean herself, as well as her co-writers Bastian Langebæk and Max Wolfgang, have not been named as defendants.

Mattie Music Group claims it contacted the 'Man I Need' hitmaker's label about the alleged copyright infringement in August, but says 'I’ve Seen It' remained available for distribution.

The publisher will also have to establish that Dean and her collaborators had access to Withers’ original song before writing their track.

The complaint points to the huge and lasting popularity of 'Just The Two Of Us', arguing that its decades of radio play gave the song widespread exposure.

The legal dispute centres on 'I’ve Seen It', a soft acoustic track that closes The Art of Loving.

Dean previously described the song as a reflection on the different kinds of love she has experienced, from family and friendship to romantic relationships.

Speaking to W Magazine, Dean revealed that she wrote the song after she had 'a lot of red wine'.

Withers died in 2020 (Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

She said that hearing it back for the first time made her cry, adding: "It felt like the loveliest note to end on."

The track has since become a streaming success, while Withers' 'Just The Two Of Us' remains one of his best-known songs.

The 1981 track, performed by Grover Washington Jr. featuring Withers - who passed away in 2020 - reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for Best R&B Song.

Since his death, Withers' music has continued to find new audiences, with 'Just The Two Of Us' having now been streamed hundreds of millions of times on Spotify.

Dean, meanwhile, has had a huge year following the release of The Art of Loving. The album reached number one in the UK, number three in the US and won Album of the Year at the 2026 BRIT Awards.

Dean bagged a Brit and a Grammy for her work (Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

Dean also took home Best New Artist at the Grammys for the same work.

Tyla has contacted the singer's representatives for comment.