Ed Sheeran has finally won his copyright battle over his hit song “Thinking Out Loud”. The estate of Marvin Gaye, which had claimed that Sheeran’s song copied Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” dropped its appeal after a jury ruled in Sheeran’s favor.
This is a major victory for Sheeran, who has been fighting the lawsuit for years. It also sends a strong message to the music industry that songwriters are protected from copyright infringement, even if they are inspired by other artists.
The case began in 2018, when the Gaye estate filed a lawsuit against Sheeran, claiming that “Thinking Out Loud” infringed on the copyright of “Let’s Get It On.” The estate alleged that Sheeran had copied the melody, rhythm, and bassline of Gaye’s song.
Sheeran denied the allegations, saying that he had never heard “Let’s Get It On” before he wrote “Thinking Out Loud.” He also said that the two songs were very different, and that he had not copied any of Gaye’s material.
The case went to trial in 2022, and a jury ruled in Sheeran’s favor. The jury found that Sheeran had not copied “Let’s Get It On,” and that his song was an original work.
The Gaye estate appealed the verdict, but it dropped its appeal in 2023. This means that Sheeran’s victory is final, and he will not have to pay any damages to the Gaye estate.
Sheeran’s lawyer, Ian Millner, said that the estate dropped the appeal to avoid further legal fees. He also said that the estate had realized that it had no chance of winning the appeal.
The outcome of this case is a major victory for Sheeran and for songwriters in general. It shows that songwriters are protected from copyright infringement, even if they are inspired by other artists.
Read more via musicbusinessworldwide.com
