Ed Sheeran Wins ‘Thinking Out Loud’ Copyright Case.

Ed Sheeran has been cleared of the allegation his ‘Thinking out Loud’ song ripped off Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get it On’.

The singer, had faced a $100 million lawsuit brought by the heirs of the song’s co-writer, Ed Townsend, but heard a verdict he was in the clear on Thursday (04.05.23) after a jury comprised of three men and four women deliberated for less than three hours before reaching their decision.

Speaking outside the court, Ed said: “I’m just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy. I am not and will not allow myself to be a piggy bank.”

Ed’s lawyer had said the case “should never have been brought”, and the singer staked his career on the outcome, saying during the case he would be “done” with music if found guilty.

The copyright lawsuit was first brought in 2018 by the estate of the late Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the 1973 R and B classic with Gaye.

It said Ed and his co-writer Amy Wadge “copied and exploited, without authorization or credit,” the composition of ‘Let’s Get It On’ by copying various elements, including its “melody, rhythms, harmonies, drums, bass line, backing chorus, tempo, syncopation and looping.”

Ed responded on the stand the same day the video was played: “If I had done what you are accusing me of doing, I would be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”