…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
Ed Sheeran has emerged victorious in a copyright infringement lawsuit brought against him by the heirs to the estate of Ed Townsend, the co-writer of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 classic, “Let’s Get It On”.
They had claimed that Sheeran’s 2014 hit single “Thinking Out Loud” had lifted elements of Gaye’s song, including its melody, harmony, and rhythm, but the jury in New York sided with the British songwriter.
Sheeran’s legal team had argued that the similarities between the songs were simply “building blocks” of music that could not be copyrighted.
The verdict is seen as a significant win for Sheeran, who had argued that allowing the claim to succeed would have threatened all musicians who create their own music.
The heirs to the estate of Ed Townsend had sought to argue that Ed Sheeran owed them money for copying elements of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” when he wrote his own hit, “Thinking Out Loud”.
However, the jury in New York rejected this claim, ruling in favour of Sheeran.
The verdict has been seen as a significant victory for the British singer-songwriter, who argued that the lawsuit was a threat to all musicians who create their own music.
Sheeran had testified in court that he found it “insulting” that someone would seek to diminish his life’s work as a performer and songwriter.
He also argued that singers often perform mash-ups and that he had combined “Thinking Out Loud” with other songs in the past, including Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”.
Sheeran’s legal team argued that the similarities between the two songs were simply basic “building blocks” of music that could not be copyrighted.
The verdict is significant because it reinforces the idea that certain elements of music cannot be copyrighted, such as basic chord progressions and rhythms.
It also highlights the importance of artistic freedom and the ability of musicians to create new works that may be inspired by earlier works.
The case is also a reminder of the ongoing debate over copyright law in the music industry, particularly with regards to how to balance the interests of artists and the public.
However, Sheeran is not out of the woods yet, as he is still facing claims over “Thinking Out Loud” from a company owned by investment banker David Pullman that holds copyright interests in the Gaye song.
This case is ongoing and could potentially result in a different outcome.
In conclusion, the verdict in Ed Sheeran’s copyright trial over “Thinking Out Loud” is a significant win for the British songwriter, who successfully argued that the similarities between his song and Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” were simply basic “building blocks” of music that could not be copyrighted.
The verdict reinforces the idea that certain elements of music cannot be copyrighted, but the ongoing debate over copyright law in the music industry is a reminder that the issue is far from settled.
Sheeran’s victory also highlights the importance of artistic freedom and the ability of musicians to create new works that may be inspired by earlier works.