British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is facing a lawsuit over claims that he copied parts of Marvin Gaye’s hit song “Let’s Get It On.” The lawsuit has been filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the song with Gaye.
According to the lawsuit, Sheeran has incorporated elements of “Let’s Get It On” into his own song “Thinking Out Loud,” which was a hit in 2014. The lawsuit alleges that Sheeran “copied the melody, rhythms, harmonies, drums, bassline, backing chorus, tempo, syncopation and looping” of Gaye’s song.
The lawsuit was filed in 2016, but it has taken several years for the case to come to trial. Sheeran appeared in Manhattan Federal Court on Tuesday to testify in the case.
Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Gaye family, claims that Sheeran has provided “smoking gun” evidence of copying the song. Crump argues that the lawsuit is not about money, but about “giving credit where credit is due.”
Sheeran’s defense team, on the other hand, argues that the similarities between the two songs are based on “unprotectable elements” and that the case should be dismissed. They also claim that the two songs have different melodies and chord progressions.
The case is being closely watched by the music industry, as it could have implications for future copyright lawsuits. The outcome of the case could potentially set a precedent for how much borrowing from existing works is allowed in creating new music.
This is not the first time that Sheeran has faced accusations of plagiarism. In 2017, he was sued over his song “Photograph,” which was alleged to have similarities to a song called “Amazing” by the X Factor winner Matt Cardle. Sheeran settled the case out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Regardless of the outcome of the current lawsuit, it is clear that copyright infringement will continue to be a contentious issue in the music industry. As artists draw inspiration from existing works and create new music, it is important to strike a balance between creativity and respecting the intellectual property rights of others.
