Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Suit From Marvin Gaye Cowriter

Summary:

Ed Sheeran has won a copyright lawsuit over his 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud,” which was accused of infringing the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get It On,” co-written by Ed Townsend.

Sheeran’s defense argued that the similar chord progression did not constitute plagiarism, a perspective that was ultimately upheld in court, marking a significant win for creative freedoms in songwriting.

Despite the victory, Sheeran expressed frustration over the lawsuit, which forced him to miss his grandmother’s funeral, and threatened to leave the music industry if he had lost the case.

Grammy winning singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran just won the copyright lawsuit over his 2014 hit song “Thinking Out Loud.” The estate of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get It On,” sued Sheeran for copyright infringement. The suit came shortly after a similar case was filed in the U.K. over another hit song of Sheeran’s, “Shape of You.” Days ago, the singer threatened to quit the music industry for good if he lost the American lawsuit.

While “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On” have entirely different lyrics, they bear the same chord progression. Sheeran’s legal defense (including cowriter Amy Wage) argued that he did not require the permission of the Gaye estate to use the similar chords, nor did he plagiarize the song. Several popular songs incorporate similar melodic elements but different lyrics, and legally are classified as interpolations. Such was the case with Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u” and Paramore’s “Misery Business.”

The suit was initially filed in 2017, but took several years to make it to court in Manhattan, New York. In wake of his big win in court, Sheeran told reporters at the scene that he was “very happy with the outcome of the case” and that he could “keep his day job” but expressed frustration over the case’s hearing in the first place.

"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," Ed Sheeran said after a jury determined that he did not wrongfully copy compositional elements or melodies from “Let’s Get It On” https://t.co/KfWTtvsVoU pic.twitter.com/X5r5mWVdRF

— CNN (@CNN) May 4, 2023

To add to his frustration with the “baseless” lawsuit, Sheeran was forced to miss his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland due to his mandatory court appearance.

Ed Sheeran had to miss his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland today due to his mandatory attendance in court for his copyright case. pic.twitter.com/1NDbpAslPi

— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) May 3, 2023

Industry Reactions

The case marks a landmark in the protection of creative freedoms for songwriters in pop music. Today, songwriters are voicing support for Sheeran’s win in court.

That “Let’s Get It On”/Ed Sheeran lawsuit is bullshit and a slippery slope to a dangerous precedent if he loses. Here’s why imho. #chordsarentsongs pic.twitter.com/VhzD6RJjNG

— Scott Simons (@scottsimonsWVLA) April 26, 2023

Despite mixed public opinions about the singer’s music, industry workers are praising the outcome of the lawsuit, as it will likely benefit the industry as a whole in the long run.

Ik y'all wanted Ed Sheeran to lose this case & quit music, but him winning this is a W for all music lovers.

Trying to claim a melody as original when billions are made each day out of few music notes only makes life harder for everyone else. pic.twitter.com/e510SWBrlI

— Dedee ???? (@thoughtfulbae) May 4, 2023