Danny, the man who can’t be copied... as he sues X Factor star James

THE Script’s Danny O’Donoghue is reportedly suing X Factor winner James Arthur for ripping off one of his tracks. James won the ninth season of the show in 2012, and is said to have used a similar ‘melody and tempo’ in his 2016 comeback song Say You Won’t Let Go to The Script’s 2008 hit The Man Who Can’t Be Moved.

Dubliner Danny, 38, pictured, claims that Impossible hitmaker James approached him and the rest of The Script in 2015 when he was dropped by his label to discuss new music – and the song in question was later released.

Billboard reports that Richard Busch from law firm King and Ballow lodged the case on Monday at Los Angeles County Superior Court amid claims James generated $20million (€17million) from his track.

The case around The Man Who Can’t Be Moved, penned by Danny, Andrew Frampton, Stephen Kipner and Mark Sheehan, includes Sony/ ATV Publishing, Sony Music, Columbia Records, Ultra International Music Publishing, Third Verse Music Publishing and Kobalt Music Publishing as co-defendants.

Danny’s side is demanding a jury trial and says that James ‘ripped off ’ the song. He is demanding‘ all streaming, distribution, publishing and touring revenue connected to the song and is seeking statutory damages over the track’.

The similarities between the songs, which allegedly have a similar tempo, vocal melodies and harmonic structures, has been noted since James released the track in 2016 when he made his big comeback. James took a step back from music in 2015 after a difficult period.

The singer has been open about his battles with addiction and anxiety in the past, a subject he covers in his new book Back To The Boy.

Explaining his decision to write the novel, he said: ‘I needed to help others with mental health issues. It goes back to my childhood. To know the man, you need to know the boy.’

Looking back on the stressful time after he won X Factor, James told the ITV This Morning show: ‘I couldn’t deal with the pressure. I didn’t know how to cope.’

After storming back into the charts with Say You Won’t Let Go, the former X Factor champion’s career has gone from strength to strength.

Late last year he confirmed he is now in a good place – allowing him to return to the music scene – and the world of romance. He said: ‘I like myself now. I don’t have a huge ego and I don’t want to be a megastar.’

The Irish Daily Mail contacted representatives for James and Danny for comment but got no reply.