Ed Sheeran denies copycat claim in Marvin Gaye song trial

British singer Ed Sheeran has denied allegations of copyright infringement in a New York City court. He is accused of copying Marvin Gaye’s song Let’s Get it On in his hit Thinking Out Loud. Heirs of Gaye’s co-writer, Ed Townsend, claim that Sheeran, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Publishing owe them money for allegedly stealing the song. During the trial, a lawyer called Sheeran’s use of Gaye’s lyrics at his concerts a “smoking gun”, but the Grammy winner denied that he had copied from Gaye’s 1973 hit. The trial is expected to last at least one week. If the jury finds the pop star liable for copyright infringement, the trial will enter a second phase to determine how much he owes.