The complaint, filed recently in California and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, claims that the similarities between Dean's "I've Seen It" — from her breakout album The Art Of Loving — and Withers' Grammy-winning classic are "obvious and inescapable." Mattie Music Group's filing asserts that the number, character, and arrangement of the shared musical features are so striking that they support an inference that the similarities did not result from coincidence, independent creation, or reliance on common musical elements.

According to court documents, the publisher first became aware of "I've Seen It" in August 2026. Following multiple listens, they engaged musicologist Dr. Alexander Stewart to conduct a detailed analysis. Stewart's expert opinion concluded that Dean's track "copied in large and significant part" Withers' masterpiece, specifically appropriating its "distinctively protectable melody."

While the lawsuit names major industry players Capitol Records, Universal Music Group, Sony Publishing, and Kobalt Music Publishing America, Inc. as defendants, Olivia Dean herself, along with her co-writers Bastian Langebaek and Max Wolfgang, are not directly included in the filing. However, the complaint suggests that Dean and her collaborators "had a reasonable opportunity to encounter" Withers' globally recognized song prior to composing "I've Seen It."

"Just the Two of Us," co-written by Withers, Ralph MacDonald, and William Salter, was a monumental success upon its release in 1981. It soared to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, cementing its place in music history. Bill Withers, celebrated for his soulful compositions, passed away in March 2020 at the age of 81, leaving behind a profound musical legacy.

Mattie Music Group alleges that attempts to contact the defendants in August regarding the alleged infringement were unsuccessful, and the labels and publishers "continued reproducing, distributing, licensing, publicly performing, and commercially exploiting" Dean’s song. The publisher is now seeking damages, the specific amount of which will be determined at trial, as they press for accountability over the alleged unauthorized use of Withers' beloved composition. This case will undoubtedly be closely watched by artists, labels, and fans alike, underscoring the vital importance of copyright protection in an era of continuous musical creation and consumption.