James Arthur has ‘settled a copyright lawsuit with The Script after plagiarism dispute’

James Arthur has settled a copyright lawsuit with The Script over his hit track Say You Won’t Let Go. 

The former X factor star faced a legal dispute from the Irish band after they claimed the song was ‘too similar’ to their 2008 chart-topper The Man Who Can’t Be Moved. 

According to The Mirror, the terms of the settlement are unknown after both sides agreed not to speak publicly about the deal. 

Legal dispute: James Arthur has settled a copyright lawsuit with The Script over his hit track Say You Won’t Let Go (pictured in 2019) 

MailOnline has contacted James’ and The Script’s representatives for comment. 

Although the exact terms of the settlement are unknown, The Script’s frontman Danny O’Donoghue and the band’s guitarist Mark Sheehan have been added as songwriters on James’ most popular song. 

The Mirror reports that a source from the music industry said the settlement went ahead in December 2018. 

Lawyers allegedly filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles in May but an agreement was not reached until the end of the year.  

Plagiarism? The X factor star faced legal dispute from the Irish band after they claimed the song was 'too similar' to The Man Who Can't Be Moved (pictured in 2017)

Plagiarism? The X factor star faced legal dispute from the Irish band after they claimed the song was ‘too similar’ to The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (pictured in 2017) 

Back in 2018, when the lawsuit first came to light, James publicly hit back at the lawsuit during a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge appearance when he added his own verse to Jorja Smith’s Blue Light.

The Impossible hitmaker was covering the BRIT winner’s single when he added his own spin to the song and called out the Irish trio, referring to them as ‘jealous’ and ‘snakes’.

Having performed his new song You Deserve Better first, James then launched into the hit, which he meshed with Dua Lipa’s One Kiss, and insisted that the Dublin band will never see a ‘dime’.

'You'll never see a dime': Back in 2018, when the lawsuit first came to light, James Arthur publicly hit back at the lawsuit during a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge appearance

‘You’ll never see a dime’: Back in 2018, when the lawsuit first came to light, James Arthur publicly hit back at the lawsuit during a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge appearance

He began: ‘Did you see – tho’ desperate men call for desperate times. But they will never see a single flipping dime of mine.

‘I’m dynamite; every single line I write, inspired by life. You can get your lawyers to indict me. You rich fellows that jealous you would spite me.

He continued: ‘You should know I never follow The Script. I rip it up and I flip it; I’m from the gutters of Britain. I went from nothin’ to millions, my fingers up in the system.

'Jealous': The Impossible hitmaker referred to the band as 'jealous' and 'snakes (pictured in 2013)

‘Jealous’: The Impossible hitmaker referred to the band as ‘jealous’ and ‘snakes (pictured in 2013) 

‘So listen: check to check, check check to count my melody. I’m all up in your business like Ron Jeremy.  People keep on telling me I’m meant for the top.  

Finishing: ‘All the snakes full of jealousy are praying I’ll flop. You’ll do nothin’ – except kick on a rock. I’ll be so flippin’ high I’ll be riding with Spock. I got money, the cars – everything I ever wanted.’   

The Impossible hitmaker, who won the ninth season of The Xfactor show in 2012, was said to have used a similar ‘melody and tempo’ in his 2016 comeback song. 

Danny claimed James approached him and the rest of The Script when he was dropped by his label in 2015 to discuss ideas for new music – although he claimed they denied the meeting and the track was then released.

Advice? Danny claims James approached him and the rest of The Script when he was dropped by his label in 2015 to discuss ideas for new music (pictured in September)

Advice? Danny claims James approached him and the rest of The Script when he was dropped by his label in 2015 to discuss ideas for new music (pictured in September) 

Billboard report that Richard Busch from law firm King and Ballow lodged the suit on Monday at Los Angeles County Superior Court amid claims James generated $20million from his track which is allegedly too similar to The Script’s track.

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

Richard revealed in a statement at the time: ‘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’.

The lawsuit is demanding a jury trial with the ruling that James ripped off the song – with the defendants demanding ‘all streaming, distribution, publishing and touring revenue connected to the song and is seeking statutory damages over the track.’ 

Sueing: The Script filed their lawsuit after James' 'similar' track Say You Wont Let Go re-started his career and reportedly generated $20million (pictured in 2018)

Sueing: The Script filed their lawsuit after James’ ‘similar’ track Say You Wont Let Go re-started his career and reportedly generated $20million (pictured in 2018)