British pop star Ed Sheeran is set to embark on an intense legal battle in which he stands accused of copyright infringement. The lawsuit alleges that Sheeran plagiarized portions of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” in his 2014 hit single “Thinking Out Loud.” The trial began on November 19, 2018, at Manhattan federal court and Sheeran is expected to testify.
The lawsuit was brought by the estate of Ed Townsend, a songwriter who collaborated with Gaye on “Let’s Get It On.” The lawsuit alleges that Sheeran copied various features from the classic track, including the same melody, vocal harmonies, and rhythmic elements. The lawsuit also lists engineer Charles Moniz and Sony/ATV Music Publishing as co-defendants.
Jury selection for the trial began on Monday, with 16 potential jurors being questioned to determine their suitability for the case. Several of Sheeran’s fans were dismissed as potential jurors because of their pre-existing beliefs in his innocence. The jurors who were selected for the trial include nine women and three men.
The trial will be presided over by Judge Louis L. Stanton, a federal judge who is familiar with similar cases. In 2015, Stanton ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams’ hit “Blurred Lines” infringed on the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up.”
If Sheeran is found guilty of copyright infringement in this case, it could potentially have significant implications for the music industry as a whole. It could lead to stricter enforcement of intellectual property rights and make it more difficult for artists to draw inspiration from each other’s work.
The trial is set to run for approximately six days, with closing arguments expected to take place on November 26. Whatever the outcome of this high-profile case, it’s clear that the music industry will be watching with keen interest.