The Police: Sting claims millions, royalty debate continues

The High Court of London has opened proceedings in The Police, in which Sting seeks compensation from former colleagues in the amount of 1.5 to 8 million pounds, including the copyright for hits such as "Every Breath You Take". During the first day of the hearing, it was revealed that Sting had already paid £600,000 to Andy Summers and Stuart Copeland. None of the musicians appeared in court, but their lawyers presented arguments. Summers and Copeland’s party argues that the claim amount is just the beginning, and Sting needs to account for revenue from streaming platforms. In turn, Sting’s representatives insist that the “arrangement fees” apply only to sales of physical media, and not to digital listening. Already formalized in 1997 and 2016, the oral agreement on shares does not take into account the modern era of streaming. The song "Every Breath You Take", which earns Sting around £550,000 a year (from 25% to 33% of his royalties), continues to hold a leading position in the global Spotify chart, including thanks to the popularity of the series "Stranger Things". Preliminary hearings will conclude on Thursday, with a full trial date to be announced later.