In a highly publicized legal battle, a jury has found that singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran did not copy Marvin Gaye’s classic hit “Let’s Get It On” in his 2014 song “Thinking Out Loud.”
The lawsuit was filed in 2016 by the estate of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote “Let’s Get It On” with Marvin Gaye. They claimed that Sheeran’s song copied the melody, harmony, and rhythm of the classic soul track.
During the trial, experts on both sides presented musicology evidence and played recordings of the two songs. Sheeran himself also took the stand to testify that he had not been influenced by “Let’s Get It On” when writing “Thinking Out Loud.”
In the end, the jury sided with Sheeran, finding that the similarities between the two songs were not enough to constitute copyright infringement. The verdict is a relief for Sheeran, who had faced the possibility of paying millions of dollars in damages if found guilty.
The case is just one example of the ongoing debate over what constitutes copyright infringement in music. With so many songs and melodies in existence, it can be difficult to determine when a new work crosses the line into plagiarism. But for now, at least, Ed Sheeran can continue to perform “Thinking Out Loud” without fear of legal repercussions.
