Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Infringement Case Over “Thinking Out Loud”

The verdict came after a two-week trial in which Sheeran spoke in the courtroom, angrily stressing that the case threatens all musicians who compose their own music. He stated that he composed the song with his friend Amy Wadge and that it was inspired by his grandparents and a love affair he was in at the time. He also noted that he was unable to go to his grandmother’s funeral in Ireland because of the court case and that no one would get that time back.

The heirs of Gaye’s co-writer claimed Sheeran, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Publishing owed them money for copyright infringement. Sheeran said he would give up his music career if a jury found him guilty.

“Of course I am very satisfied with the outcome of this process. Looks like I won’t have to quit my job after all. But at the same time, I’m incredibly frustrated that unsubstantiated claims like these can end up in court,” he said in a prepared statement. He whispered “thank you” to the jury after the verdict.

According to music critics from around the world, Gaye was one of the greatest black singers in history, in addition to the hit Let’s Get It On, he also became famous thanks to the cover version of the song I Heard It Through The Grapevine, made famous among rockers by the Creedence Clearwater Revival group, or the song What’s Going On from the album of the same name Albums. However, his life ended prematurely in 1984 when he was shot dead by his own father after an argument.

Last year, Sheeran won a plagiarism lawsuit involving his song Shape of You from 2017. Sheeran faced accusations that he copied parts of the song for the chorus of his hit Oh Why from 2015 by singer Sami Chokri aka Sami Switch and music producer Ross O’Donoghue.