Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran appeared in a New York courtroom on Thursday as part of a lawsuit accusing him of copyright infringement. Sheeran sang and played guitar in court as he defended his hit song “Thinking Out Loud” against claims that it ripped off Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” (AP News). The heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote “Let’s Get It On” with Gaye, claim that Sheeran borrowed elements from the classic song without permission (The New York Times).
Sheeran took the stand to deny the allegations and to explain how he composed “Thinking Out Loud.” He told the court that he wrote the song during a session at a studio in England with co-writer Amy Wadge (CNN). The singer stressed that he had never heard “Let’s Get It On” until he was told of similarities between the two songs several years after “Thinking Out Loud” was released (The Guardian).
During his testimony, Sheeran also discussed his musical influences and how he approaches songwriting. He explained that he often draws inspiration from his personal experiences and from other artists, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Van Morrison (ABC News).
The trial, which began earlier this week, is expected to last several days. Sheeran is not the first high-profile musician to face accusations of copyright infringement. Last year, a jury ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied elements of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up” in their hit song “Blurred Lines.” The ruling led to a $7.4 million settlement in favor of Gaye’s family (Los Angeles Times).
Sheeran has had a successful career in the music industry, with four Grammy Awards and numerous hit songs to his name, including “Shape of You,” “Photograph,” and “Castle on the Hill.” The singer is also preparing to release his fourth studio album, titled “Subtract,” which he says was inspired by personal grief (The Guardian).
The trial continues as the music industry and copyright laws continue to face scrutiny and debate. As musicians draw from past influences and create new sounds, the question of what constitutes copyright infringement remains a complex and nuanced issue (NPR).
