NEW YORK, USA – A Manhattan jury on Thursday, May 4, 2023 cleared British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran of copyright infringement allegations yesterday, determining that his Grammy-winning hit “Thinking Out Loud” did not unlawfully copy elements from Marvin Gaye’s classic “Let’s Get It On.”
Sheeran expressed relief over the verdict, saying he is “obviously very happy with the outcome of the case” and won’t have to “retire from my day job.”
He also lamented the “unbelievably frustrating” nature of “baseless claims” like these being allowed in court, which took a significant emotional toll on him and caused him to miss his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland.
At the center of the trial was Sheeran’s 2016 Grammy award-winning song “Thinking Out Loud,” which the family of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote “Let’s Get It On” with Gaye, accused Sheeran of copying.
Sheeran, who has sold over 150 million records worldwide, argued in court that the chord progression he used in “Thinking Out Loud” was a common musical element that has been used in countless other songs over the years.
The plaintiffs alleged similarities in the chord progression, harmonic rhythm, and certain melodies between the two songs, while Sheeran’s legal team argued that the melodies are different and the elements used in both songs are common in pop music.
In an effort to disprove the allegations, Sheeran performed the opening line of “Thinking Out Loud” for the jury during the trial, also testifying that the song was written in less than a day in February 2014 alongside co-writer Amy Wadge.
The pair drew inspiration from their relatives’ long marriages while writing the song.
In a statement after the verdict, Sheeran declared his independence in the music industry and his determination to protect his intellectual property.
“I am thrilled that the jury has found in my favour and confirmed that I did not copy Marvin Gaye’s song,” he said. “I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake. Having to be in New York for this trial means I’ve missed being with my family at my grandmother’s funeral, and I will never get that time back.”
The trial’s outcome follows a wave of high-profile music copyright lawsuits in recent years, with varying results. Gaye’s family previously won a $7.4 million (later reduced to $5.3 million) lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for their hit “Blurred Lines,” while Taylor Swift and Led Zeppelin emerged victorious in similar cases.
Sheeran’s victory is significant for the music industry and sets an important precedent for future copyright cases.
It also highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property in an industry where creativity and innovation are the lifeblood of success.
