A jury in New York has ruled in favor of British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran in a closely watched copyright infringement case. The case revolved around allegations that Sheeran ripped off Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On for his hit song Thinking Out Loud. The case is being considered a victory for recording artists, as the verdict indicates that similarities in basic musical elements cannot be protected by copyright law. The ruling means that Sheeran is not liable for copyright infringement, a complete defense if independent creation can be proven. Townsend’s heirs had sued Sheeran, his label Warner Music Group and his music publisher Sony Music Publishing in 2017, claiming infringement of their copyright interest in the Gaye song.

Source: The Guardian May 05, 2023 12:01 UTC