The case between Ed Sheeran and Marvin Gaye revolved around whether Sheeran’s hit song “Thinking Out Loud” infringed upon Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
Below is a summary of what transpired in the case Ed Sheeran vs Marvin Gaye:
- According to a federal jury, Ed Sheeran did not steal the melody of Marvin Gaye’s timeless song “Let’s Get It On” for his hit single “Thinking Out Loud.”
- Sheeran claimed that the song “Thinking Out Loud” was independently written by him and his friend and fellow musician Amy Wadge and was motivated by their observations of lasting love.
- Despite the fact that the chord structures of the two songs are similar, Sheeran and his attorneys claimed that these chords are typical musical elements found in many songs.
- Sheeran expressed anger that such unfounded accusations are permitted to proceed to court.
- Gaye’s original recording was never played for the jury; instead, a computer-generated recreation of the deposit copy was played several times.
- The decision upholds the copyright status quo and is viewed as a victory for all songwriters.
This case is seen as a win for songwriters because it reaffirms the importance of originality and creativity in music composition. The jury’s decision in favour of Ed Sheeran suggests that using common chord progressions or musical building blocks, which are prevalent in many songs, does not automatically constitute copyright infringement.
It upholds the idea that songwriters should be able to draw inspiration from existing musical elements without facing baseless claims of plagiarism. The verdict provides clarity and reassurance to songwriters that they can continue to create music using familiar musical elements while maintaining the integrity of their own work.