In the states, a Jury is set to decide whether Ed Sheeran copied Marvin Gaye’s classic hit, ‘Let’s Get It On’, while writing his own massive hit, ‘Thinking Out Loud’.
Sheeran had made a request to get the lawsuit accusing him of copying the 1973 song dismissed. However, that was rejected by District Judge Louis Stanton in Manhattan. Stanton claims that he discovered “substantial similarities between several of the two works’ musical elements,” which comprises of percussion and bass lines of both tracks.
As well as the similarities between the two tracks, Stanton also cited live performances of Sheeran where the singer would “seamlessly [transition] between [the songs]” in support of the lawsuit.
A jury will now be asked to decide if the rhythm and harmonies of ‘Let’s Get It On’ are too commonplace for copyright protection or that Sheeran actually violated the song’s copyright.
The legal dispute was taken to court by the late producer Ed Townsend’s estate, who co-wrote Let’s Get It On with Marvin Gaye. The suit identifies the defendants as Sheeran, Amy Wadge (Sheeran’s Co-Writer), Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Atlantic Records.
Sheeran’s representatives argue that Gaye’s original was a “sexual anthem” while Thinking Out Loud was known for “sombre, melancholic tones, addressing long-lasting romantic love.”
The NME reports that Sheeran also faces a second lawsuit from Structured Asset Sales LLC, which owns one-third of Townsend’s estate. They are seeking $100 million in damages regarding the same song.
@MarvinGayeForum @MarvinGayeMusic #MarvinGaye #RIP pic.twitter.com/GNb02RHCny
— Mica Paris (@MicaParisSoul) April 1, 2014
Feliz cumpleaños, #happybday @MarvinGayeMusic @MarvinGayeForum http://t.co/14TRDdEacz #eterno pic.twitter.com/oCWn7OnwFD
— Cierra la puerta (@CLP_Radio3) April 1, 2014
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