British pop star Ed Sheeran has been accused of using a portion of the melody from Marvin Gaye’s soul classic “Let’s Get it On” in his hit “Thinking Out Loud”. After a copyright infringement trial, a verdict has been reached in the case.
On the second day of deliberations, the jury came to an unanimous verdict, which was a requirement in the case.
Starting on April 25th, the trial took place in a federal courtroom in Manhattan, where the 32-year-old singer testified in front of the jurors.
In 2017, the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote Marvin Gaye’s song, filed a lawsuit that led to the current case. The lawsuit argues that Sheeran’s 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud” contains “striking similarities” and shares “overt common elements” with Gaye’s copyrighted 1973 record “Let’s Get It On.”
The U.S. Court has ruled that Ed Sheeran is not guilty of copyright infringement towards the classic Marvin Gaye song.
The verdict comes days after Ed Sheeran told the court he will quit music if he was found guilty of plagiarism. Sheeran claimed that it was insulting as a performer to bee blamed for the crime.
This is not the first time that Sheeran has won a copyright case against him. Last year Sheeran won a copyright battle at the High Court in London over his 2017 Shape of You.
