Ed Sheeran news – live: Singer releases new album Subtract after winning Marvin Gaye lawsuit
Singer had been fighting a lawsuit in New York after being accused of plagiarising Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ for his 2014 single ‘Thinking Out Loud’
Ed Sheeran has released his new album Subtract, just hours after winning his latest copyright lawsuit.
A Manhattan jury found on Thursday 4 May that the British singer-songwriter did not plagiarise Marvin Gaye’s 1973 song “Let’s Get It On” for his 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud”.
Sheeran had been sued by the heirs of Ed Townsend, the songwriter who composed the slow jam classic with Gaye.
They accused Sheeran’s song of copying the anthem’s harmonic progressions as well as melodic and rhythmic elements without permission.
In a defiant statement after the verdict, Sheeran said he would not “allow myself to be a piggy bank”.
The lawsuit was initially filed in 2017, but took six years to finally reach a Manhattan federal court.
Sheeran vehemently denied plagiarising “Let’s Get It On”. His lawyers argued that the song used common constructions found in many pop tracks.
He told the court earlier this week that, should he lose, he planned on quitting music.
Read The Independent’s review of Subract here.
Ed Sheeran review, Subtract: Aaron Dessner collaboration proves that less is definitely more
Ed Sheeran wins Marvin Gaye ‘Thinking Out Loud’ plagiarism case: ‘I’m not going to have to give up my day job’
‘I will never allow myself to be a piggy bank’: Ed Sheeran shares defiant message after copyright trial win
When will the verdict arrive?
A source close to Sheeran told The Independent that the verdict is expected today. It could have huge repercussions given reports that the musician told the court this week that, should he lose, he plans on quitting music.
Sheeran also faces another lawsuit from the owner of Gaye’s song
In the same New York City court, investment banker David Pullman – who owns one-third of Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” – is also suing Sheeran for copyright infringement.
A judge ruled last year that this lawsuit would also proceed to trial despite Sheeran’s motion for dismissal.
It’s now down to the jury
That’s all foks. We’ve heard testimonies from both sides and lawyers for the plaintiffs and Sheeran have given closing arguments.
The jurors were sent home shortly after closing arguments and will return on Thursday morning to deliberate, Reuters reports.