Sam Smith facing second legal battle over his song Stay With Me

Sam’s reportedly been stung with another lawsuit over his track Stay With Me – filed in the US by songwriter Mark Halper – earlier this week.

According to reports, Mark has filed the suit claiming that a demo he recorded, called Don’t Throw Our Love Away, back in 1986 starts with the “phraseology and significant phrase, ‘stay with me’.”

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It’s claimed Mark’s not just taking legal action with Sam, but a number of other labels. His demands reportedly include him wanting a Grammy for his work. Well, if you don't ask, you don't get...

Sam, 22, already agreed to pay Tom Petty royalties because of similarities between Stay With Me and Tom’s song I Won’t Back Down.

Tom, and the songs co-writer Jeff Lynne, settled out of court with Sam last year and it was confirmed both would received a 12.5 per cent writing credit.

Speaking about the court case afterwards, Tom wrote: “About the Sam Smith thing. Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam. All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen. Most times you catch it before it gets out the studio door but in this case it got by.

“Sam’s people were very understanding of our predicament and we easily came to an agreement. The word lawsuit was never even said and was never my intention. And no more was to be said about it. How it got out to the Press is beyond Sam or myself. Sam did the right thing and I have thought no more about this. A musical accident no more no less…I wish Sam all the best for his ongoing career. Peace and love to all.”