The hit song “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran emerged victorious in a copyright infringement lawsuit against Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
The heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote “Let’s Get It On” with Gaye in 1973, filed the lawsuit against Sheeran in 2017. Alleging that there is a “striking similarities” between the two songs. However, a New York federal jury cleared Sheeran of violating the Copyright Act.
Ed Sheeran emerges victorious in copyright infringement lawsuit over his chart-topping song ‘Thinking Out Loud”
Sheeran expressed his contentment with the verdict. He said “very happy with the outcome of the case, and it looks like I’m not going to have to retire from my day job after all.” However, he also criticized the impact of lawsuits like this on the creative freedom of musicians, contending that songwriters use a common set of chords that should be available for all to use.
The trial caused Sheeran to miss his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland. He thanked the jury, co-writer Amy Wadge, his team, and supporters, hoping that “songwriters and the wider musical community” could unite to “bring back common sense” and “stop these claims so that the creative process can carry on, and we can all just go back to making music.” The plaintiffs declined to comment after the verdict, and attorneys for both sides have not provided statements to the media.
Billboard Achievements
Sheeran won a separate copyright infringement case over his song “Shape of You” in 2020. Edward Christopher Sheeran, born on February 17, 1991, in Halifax, England, gained fame with his 2012 debut album, “+,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200. In 2014, his second album, “X,” became his first album to top the Billboard 200 chart. Sheeran has earned many accolades for his music, including several Grammy Awards and nominations.
Songwriting
In addition to his successful solo career, Sheeran has written songs for other well-known artists, such as One Direction’s “Moments,” Taylor Swift’s “Everything Has Changed,” and Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.” Sheeran performed at the Recording Academy’s 40th-anniversary celebration of the iconic Saturday Night Fever film soundtrack, “Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees,” which aired on April 16, 2017.
