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Jury Finds That Ed Sheeran Didn't Copy Marvin Gaye Classic 'Let's Get It On'
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It was a relief for Ed Sheeran as a New York federal jury concluded that he didn't steal key components of Marvin Gaye's classic 1970s tune "Let's Get It On" when he created his hit song "Thinking Out Loud."
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Ed Sheeran briefly put his hands over his face in relief, and hugged his lawyer as the jury answered the single question of whether he proved he didn't infringe upon the copyright in the affirmative.
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Sheeran later addressed reporters outside of the courthouse, expressing his happiness with the outcome of the case but also his frustration that baseless claims like this are allowed to go to court.
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The lawsuit was brought against Sheeran by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-created the 1973 soul classic with Gaye.
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The trial lasted two weeks and featured a courtroom performance by Sheeran as he insisted, sometimes angrily, that the trial was a threat to all musicians who create their own music.
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Sheeran's lawyers argued that the songs shared versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression freely available to all songwriters.
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The jury saw video of a concert in Switzerland in which Sheeran can be heard segueing on stage between "Let's Get It On" and "Thinking Out Loud."
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The English pop star's cheerful attitude on display under questioning from his attorney, Ilene Farkas, all but vanished under cross-examination.
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Sheeran repeatedly picked up a guitar resting behind him on the witness stand to demonstrate how he seamlessly creates "mashups" of songs during concerts to "spice it up a bit" for his sizeable crowds.
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Sheeran testified that he stole nothing from "Let's Get It On" when he wrote his tune, and insisted that the case was being closely watched by others in the industry.
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The Townsend heirs said in their lawsuit that "Thinking Out Loud" had "striking similarities" and "overt common elements" that made it obvious that it had copied "Let's Get It On."
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Sheeran's song, which came out in 2014, was a hit, winning a Grammy for song of the year.
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Marvin Gaye was killed in 1984 at age 44, shot by his father as he tried to intervene in a fight between his parents.
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Gaye had been a Motown superstar since the 1960s, although his songs released in the 1970s made him a generational musical giant.
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Ed Townsend, who co-created "Let's Get It On," was a singer, songwriter, and lawyer who died in 2003.
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Kathryn Townsend Griffin, his daughter, testified during the trial that she thought Sheeran was "a great artist with a great future."
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She said she had hoped the lawsuit would not result in a trial, "but I have to protect my father's legacy."
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Sheeran said he missed his grandmother's funeral in Ireland because of the trial, and that he "won't get that time back."
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Sheeran's victory in the case was a relief for him and a win for musicians everywhere, who face constant scrutiny over the originality of their work.
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The case highlights the complexities of copyright law in the music industry and the challenges facing artists who are accused of stealing from other musicians.