Sheeran Prevails In Copyright Lawsuit
• Ed Sheeran is not liable in a copyright infringement lawsuit that accused him of using parts of the melody of Marvin Gaye‘s classic “Let’s Get It On” in his own 2014 hit, “Thinking Out Loud,” a jury decided Thursday.
According to NBC News, the jury reached a unanimous verdict, a requirement in the case, after less than three hours of deliberations. Jurors said that Sheeran independently created the song, trumping every other decision they must make in determining whether he made copyright violations.
Upon hearing the verdict, Sheeran stood up and hugged his lawyers. His wife, Cherry Seaborn, and his “Thinking Out Loud” co-writer, Amy Wadge, were in tears during the emotional reading.
As The Wrap reports, during the trial, Sheeran took the stand and played his guitar to demonstrate the harmonic progressions of “Thinking Out Loud,” and how they are similar to those of other pop songs — from artists like Nina Simone, Bill Withers and Van Morrison — in addition to “Let’s Get It On.” Sheeran’s team also presented testimony from expert musicologists, whose findings deemed the two songs not substantially similar.
Speaking outside the courthouse after the verdict, Sheeran said: “I’m obviously very happy with the outcome of the case and it looks like I’m not having to retire from my day job, after all.” At the same time, he said he felt “frustrated” by the “baseless claims,” while also praising the jury’s decision, noting it will allow songwriters to continue to have artistic freedom.
Sheeran also talked about the toll the trial took on him, saying that being in New York for the proceedings had caused him to miss his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland. “Like artists everywhere, Amy and I work hard to independently create songs which are often based around real life and personal experience,” Sheeran said. “It’s devastating to be accused of stealing someone else’s songs when we put so much work into our livelihoods.” He added, “I’m just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy. I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake.”
