Ed Sheeran
A federal jury in Manhattan ruled that Ed Sheeran, an English singer-songwriter, did not plagiarise Marvin Gaye’s classic ‘Let’s Get It On’ for his 2014 smash ‘Thinking Out Loud’.
Ed Sheeran, the British music sensation, expressed excitement and relief after a US jury absolved him of copyright infringement.
After jurors found that he had independently composed his 2014 song, the English singer stood and hugged his crew inside a Manhattan federal courtroom.
Outside, he told media that he was very happy but unbelievably frustrated that ‘baseless claims like this’ were even brought to trial.
The heirs of Gaye co-writer Ed Townsend filed the civil case, alleging that the harmonic progressions and rhythmic parts of Sheeran’s song were taken without permission from Gaye’s masterpiece.
The heirs wanted a cut of the income from Sheeran’s successful song.
“If the jury had decided this case differently, we might as well say goodbye to songwriters’ creative freedom”, Sheeran told media outside the court.
“It is devastating and also insulting to be accused of stealing other people’s songs when we put so much into our livelihoods”, he continued.
He further said, “I’m just a guy with a guitar who enjoys writing music for other people to listen to”.
“I am not and will never allow myself to be used as a piggy bank for anyone to shake”, he added
Sheeran informed the media that having to be in New York for the trial had stopped him from attending his grandmother’s burial in Ireland, which he had to miss due to the case. It’s not time to return. The funeral was held on Wednesday.
Also read: Musician Ed Sheeran Vows To Retire If Found Guilty Of Plagiarism
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