"Just the Way You Are" crooner Bruno Mars is suing his publisher. The singer - whose real name is Peter Hernandez - has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to free him from a contract with Bug Music, which he claims ended on May 12, 2011 when the company didn't exercise its option to continue it.

The 25-year-old singer's lawyer, Michael J. Niborski, told the Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday that Bug originally acknowledged they would have to extend the contract in order for a deal to continue between the two. He added that when Bruno expressed his wish to leave the publisher, they "shifted gears, and suddenly argued that Mars had not, in fact, met the minimum release requirements."

The documents also claim Bruno had to submit all his music by February, giving Bug time to decide whether to continue their agreement with the "Nothin' On You" writer before the deal then expired in May. The organization counter claims Bruno is still under their contract and they own 50 per cent of the copyright to any music he makes.