The Sc ript sue ‘X Factor’ winner Arthur over song
THE Script are suing ‘X Factor’ winner James Arthur for copyright infringement over his single ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’.
The Dublin band claim Arthur’s 2016 single is too similar to their hit ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’, which was released in 2008.
The band’s lawyer Richard Busch filed the suit against Arthur in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday.
Mr Busch previously represented Marvin Gaye’s estate in its successful lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over the song ‘Blurred Lines’.
When ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ was released in 2016 music fans immediately noted its similarities to The Script song. They include the same 4/4 meter, tempo, four-bar guitar intro and vocal melodies.
Mr Busch claims ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ gave Arthur “worldwide success” after he had been dropped by his record label for a series of controversies. In 2013, he came under fire for writing derogatory lyrics about the LGBTQ community.
Mr Busch also claims that Arthur approached members of The Script in 2014 to propose a collaboration, which they turned down.
Arthur has previously denied claims that there are similarities between the two songs. Last year, when asked about comparisons between the two songs, he said: “It’s 2017, there’s only seven notes in music.
“Every blues song sounds the f***ing same. People get wound up about these things for no reason.”
Both Arthur and The Script are signed to the same management company.