A federal jury has ruled in favor of Ed Sheeran in the copyright infringement case against Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” The lawsuit claimed that Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” used a similar chord progression, but Sheeran’s defense argued that the chords were part of a songwriter’s toolkit and used in other songs before Gaye’s 1973 hit. The music industry has been closely watching the case, as the verdict could have an impact on creative freedom for musicians. During the trial, Sheeran argued that similarities between songs did not constitute infringement and warned that punitive copyright rulings could stifle creativity. Sheeran expressed his happiness with the outcome of the case and frustration with the court allowing baseless claims to go to court.
Musician Ed Sheeran delved into the emotional toll of his trial, explaining that because he had to be in New York, it meant missing being with his family for his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland.
“I will never get that time back." https://t.co/8z33TN3o1f pic.twitter.com/CYs6japr1F
— CNN (@CNN) May 4, 2023