Ed Sheeran's US copyright woes: A UK perspective

14-10-2022

Carl Steele and Chris Fotheringham

Ed Sheeran's US copyright woes: A UK perspective

Fred Duval / Shutterstock.com

As the singer faces a US jury trial over his hit song, he will find proceedings different to his experience at home, say Carl Steele and Chris Fotheringham of Ashfords.

Ed Sheeran will stand trial before a jury in a Manhattan court over claims that he has committed copyright infringement because he “copied and exploited” parts of Marvin Gaye’s song “Let’s Get It On” when writing his own song “Thinking Out Loud”.

Structured Asset Sales, which reportedly owns a portion of the copyright in “Let’s Get It On” via Ed Townsend’s estate (co-writer of the song), is seeking $100m in damages.

US District Judge Louis Stanton denied Sheeran’s attempts to get the case dismissed. The music experts of the parties disagree as to whether copyright infringement has taken place.


Ed Sheeran, copyright infringement, Ashfords, damages, Marvin Gaye, music, property right

WIPR