Thinking Out A Lawsuit
Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud” Court case, New York Times
In 2018 a Lawsuit was filed against Ed Sheeran for claimed infringement of copyright over his song “Thinking out Loud”, in comparison to Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On”. This trial went from April to May of 2023, but this trial was filed 6 years ago, and due to the Covid Pandemic was postponed, since Sheeran was not in the United States during that time. The verdict was in favor of Ed Sheeran, and found that his song was independent from Graye’s hit.
Despite this great outcome for Sheeran, in the pre trial stages, he had discussed with press that the process was frustrating, and had caused unnecessary conflict over blameless claims. Sheeran stated, “It’s simply wrong. By stopping this practice we can also properly support genuine music copyright claims so that legitimate claims are rightly heard and resolved” (Sheeran, Rollingstone, 2023). Ed Sheeran went through a difficult process for a claim worth very little, this not only put stress on his career but his family as well.
In the point he makes above, about other legitimate claims needing to be heard, many musicians often file claims about copyright and their music, but the money put into those charges are what push those trials to be tested. Many musicians whose work has been affected by copyright are not heard for years if ever, do to the public knowledge of that artists work. In Sheeran’s speech after the trial he makes key points in what songwriters do, and how this copyright process needs to be changed.
Referenced Sources:
Kreps, Daniel. “Ed Sheeran Wins ‘Thinking out Loud’ Copyright Trial.” Rolling Stone, Rolling Stone, 25 Sept. 2023, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ed-sheeran-not-liable-thinking-out-loud-trial-1234724464/.
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