Ed Sheeran Sued For Copyright Infringement – Again

Ed Sheeran was sued for copyright infringement for the second time this year on Tuesday.

ED SHEERAN SUED

Sheeran’s recent Grammy winner for Song of the Year, “Thinking Out Loud,” has been accused of sounding shockingly similar to Marvin Gaye’s famed hit “Let’s Get it On.” The heirs of musician Ed Townsend, who wrote the music and co-wrote lyrics to Gaye’s song uphold that “Sheeran copied the major aspects of the melody, harmony and composition of “Let’s Get it On” for his hit “Thinking Out Loud.””

“The Defendants copied the ‘heart’ of ‘Let’s’ and repeated it continuously throughout ‘Thinking,’” the lawsuit said. “The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of ‘Thinking’ are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of ‘Let’s.’

At a concert in Zurich in 2014, Sheeran seamlessly flowed between the two songs, proving he was aware of the similarities. See a video of the performance here.

Compare the two tunes below:

The first suit of the year came in June, when songwriting duo Martin Harrington and Tom Leonard filed a $20 million lawsuit for copying their song “Amazing” in Sheeran’s 2014 hit “Photograph.” “Amazing” was performed by Matt Cardle, winner of UK X Factor season seven. The performer has since distanced himself from the lawsuit, claiming no part in it, and offering his admiration for Sheeran via twitter, where he wrote, “Please read news articles closely. This is not my lawsuit. I think @edsheeran is a genius & 100% deserves all his success.”

Sheeran and his representatives have yet to settle either lawsuit.