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The Script sue James Arthur in latest song-theft case

By | Published on Tuesday 22 May 2018

James Arthur

It’s like I always say, one Richard Busch-led lawsuit is just never enough. So, fear not people, I have another. And this one pitches a former ‘The Voice’ judge against a former ‘X-Factor’ winner! Yep, it has it all, people. Roll up, roll up.

Danny O’Donoghue and his band The Script are suing James Arthur in a song-theft dispute. The former accuse the latter of ripping of their 2008 song ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ on his 2016 hit ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’.

Arthur is being sued alongside his songwriting buddies Neil Ormandy and Steve Solomon, along with their various music industry partners, which include both the Sony Music record company and the Sony/ATV music publishing business. Double win!

The lawsuit alleges that Arthur approached The Script about a possible collaboration in 2014 but was turned down. He then copied the “essence” of ‘The Man Who Can’t Be Moved’ for his 2016 hit, the legal papers continue.

Speaking to Billboard, the very busy Busch notes the various controversies that hampered Arthur’s career in the years after ‘X-Factor’, reckoning that the allegedly plagiarising song subsequently helped to relaunch Arthur as a credible pop act set for global success.

Says the lawyer: “It’s widely known Mr Arthur was dropped by his record label for public controversies, which caused a break in his career. It wasn’t until the release of ‘Say You Won’t Let Go’ that he achieved worldwide success”.



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