Ed Sheeran sued a second time for copyright infringement

Musical phenomenon Ed Sheeran is being sued for allegedly copying parts of Marvin Gaye’s classic “Let’s Get It On” track on his hit single “Thinking Out Loud”.

According to documents lodged in New York, Sheeran copies various aspects of the “melody, rhythms, harmonies, drums, bass line, backing chorus, tempo, syncopation and looping” of Gaye’s 1973 song.

Sheeran has previously faced legal action over the same song back in 2016 by the family of Ed Townsend who co-wrote “Let’s Get It On”. It is unclear whether that case has been resolved. This time the claim is being brought by a company called Structures Asset Sales which owns part of the Copyright of Gaye’s song.

It was only last year that Sheeran settled a case for over $20 million over an allegation that his hit single, “Photograph,” copied a track released by X Factor winner Matt Cardle.

Briffa Comment

This claim is another US copyright infringement case where popular artists have been accused of going too far in taking inspiration from previous artists work. This will be a decision that will ultimately be made by the US legal system and only time will tell how this claim will proceed.

Briffa advises on all areas of intellectual property law including copyright infringement. For further information please contact info@briffa.com