Ed Sheeran Sued for Copying Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’
Ed Sheeran has been hit with another copyright infringement lawsuit that alleges Sheeran lifted elements of Marvin Gaye’s famous hit “Let’s Get It On" for his 2014 track “Thinking Out Loud.”
The lawsuit has been filed by heirs of the late Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the lyrics and its musical composition to the famous Gaye track, according to Rolling Stone.
In the lawsuit, Townsend’s heirs claim the similarities between “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On” extend to harmonic progressions, melody and rhythm, and are too close to be mere coincidence.
“The Defendants copied the ‘heart’ of ‘Let’s’ and repeated it continuously throughout ‘Thinking,’” the lawsuit reads. “The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of ‘Thinking’ are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of ‘Let’s.’”
This lawsuit comes two months after songwriters Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard accused Sheeran of copyright theft, alleging similarities between his track “Photograph” and their song “Amazing,” which was recorded and released by 2010 X Factor UK winner Matt Cardle.
The plaintiffs enlisted the help of Richard Busch, the attorney who aided the Marvin Gaye family in winning $7.3 million when they sued Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. back in 2014.
That case was based on alleged similarities between the 2013 song “Blurred Lines” and Gaye’s hit “Got to Give It Up," and was closely followed by music fans and the media alike.
Listen to Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" and Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" below, and let us know if the similarities warrant a copyright infringement lawsuit.
"Thinking Out Loud"
"Let's Get It On"
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