Ed Sheeran is scheduled to testify in a New York court as the trial over the alleged copying of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” by the singer begins.
The heirs of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer, sued Sheeran in 2017, alleging that his hit song “Thinking Out Loud” has “striking similarities” to “Let’s Get It On” that violate the song’s copyright. Sheeran’s lawyers stated that the songs’ “structural symmetry points only to the foundations of popular music” and share a similar chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters. The lawsuit began on April 24th, 2023, in a Manhattan federal courtroom, and is expected to last a week.
The jury will be asked to consider the raw elements of melody, harmony, and rhythm while discussing the legal similarities between the two songs. Sheeran’s lawyers have stated that the judgment will be an “emphatic vindication of the creative genius” of Sheeran and his co-writers, Johnny and Steve. They claim that the three created their hit song “Shape Of You” together, without copying anyone else.
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The jury, comprising four women and three men, will decide whether Sheeran used Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” to create “Thinking Out Loud.” This case raises questions about the use of chord progressions and the distinction between inspiration and plagiarism in music.
This is not the first time that a high-profile artist has been accused of copyright infringement. The outcome of this case may have significant implications for the music industry and the protection of intellectual property.
