A jury in the US decided on Thursday (May 4) that “Thinking Out Loud”,&nbsp;the popular English singer Ed Sheeran’s 2014 hit, did not unlawfully copy from Marvin Gaye’s classic 1973 song “Let's Get It On.” The British musician expressed joy and relief after the verdict and called the ruling good news for creative freedom.

After the verdict, he hugged his legal team inside a Manhattan federal courtroom. Jurors ruled that he had “independently” created the song. Sheeran told reporters outside that he was “very happy” but “unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this” even make it to trial.&nbsp; 
 
“It is devastating and also insulting to be accused of stealing other people's songs when we put so much into our livelihoods,” said Sheeran, adding that he’s “just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy.”&nbsp;

“I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake,” said Sheeran.&nbsp;

The court also determined that Sheeran’s label Warner Music Group and his music publisher Sony Music Publishing did not violate the copyright as heirs of “Let’s Get It On” songwriter Ed Townsend were not able to prove the infringement of their copyright interest in the Gaye song.&nbsp;

“I want to thank the jury for making the decision that will help protect the creative process for songwriters here in the United States and all around the world,” said Sheeran outside the court.

He also spoke about how if the jury would have “decided this matter the other way, we might as well say goodbye to the creative freedom of songwriters.”&nbsp;

The closely-watched trial came to an end after six days and less than three hours of jury deliberations. This comes after the heirs of Gaye co-writer Ed Townsend alleged that Sheeran copied the song’s “harmonic progressions,” “melodic and rhythmic elements,” and “repeated it continuously” throughout his song.

Sheeran had previously denied the allegations and argued that Gaye’s song only has routine elements that are not unique or protectable. The lawsuit had focused on the musical building blocks of Gaye’s song, not the lyrics or the overall feel. 
 
The heirs sought a share of the profits from Sheeran’s 2014 hit song and in a court filing said that they received 22 per cent of the writer’s share of Gaye’s song from Townsend.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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A jury in the US decided on Thursday (May 4) that “Thinking Out Loud”, the popular English singer Ed Sheeran’s 2014 hit, did not unlawfully copy from Marvin Gaye’s classic 1973 song “Let's Get It On.

A jury in the US decided on Thursday (May 4) that “Thinking Out Loud”, the popular English singer Ed Sheeran’s 2014 hit, did not unlawfully copy from Marvin Gaye’s classic 1973 song “Let's Get It On.” The British musician expressed joy and relief after the verdict and called the ruling good news for creative freedom. After the verdict, he hugged his legal team inside a Manhattan federal courtroom. Jurors ruled that he had “independently” created the song. Sheeran told reporters outside that he was “very happy” but “unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this” even make it to trial. “It is devastating and also insulting to be accused of stealing other people's songs when we put so much into our livelihoods,” said Sheeran, adding that he’s “just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy.” “I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake,” said Sheeran. The court also determined that Sheeran’s label Warner Music Group and his music publisher Sony Music Publishing did not violate the copyright as heirs of “Let’s Get It On” songwriter Ed Townsend were not able to prove the infringement of their copyright interest in the Gaye song. “I want to thank the jury for making the decision that will help protect the creative process for songwriters here in the United States and all around the world,” said Sheeran outside the court. He also spoke about how if the jury would have “decided this matter the other way, we might as well say goodbye to the creative freedom of songwriters.” The closely-watched trial came to an end after six days and less than three hours of jury deliberations. This comes after the heirs of Gaye co-writer Ed Townsend alleged that Sheeran copied the song’s “harmonic progressions,” “melodic and rhythmic elements,” and “repeated it continuously” throughout his song. Sheeran had previously denied the allegations and argued that Gaye’s song only has routine elements that are not unique or protectable. The lawsuit had focused on the musical building blocks of Gaye’s song, not the lyrics or the overall feel. The heirs sought a share of the profits from Sheeran’s 2014 hit song and in a court filing said that they received 22 per cent of the writer’s share of Gaye’s song from Townsend. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Singer Ed Sheeran wins ‘Let's Get It On’ copyright trial, says he's 'very happy'

Jury selection began Monday in a trial to determine whether British pop star Ed Sheeran plagiarized American music legend Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On&nbsp;in his 2014 hit Thinking Out Loud.

The plaintiffs are the heirs of Ed Townsend, a musician and producer who co-wrote Gaye's 1973 soul classic.

They allege that there are "striking similarities and overt common elements" between Gaye's sultry classic and Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud.

It's not the first time Sheeran has been taken to court, as copyright lawsuits in the music industry flourish.&nbsp;

Sheeran testified in a London court in April last year in a case centered around his song Shape of You.&nbsp;He is among the potential witnesses to be called in this trial as well, in which opening arguments were due to begin Tuesday after a jury is selected, a lawyer working on the case told AFP.&nbsp; 
 
Townsend's family has pointed out that the group Boyz II Men has performed mash-ups of the two songs, and that Sheeran has blended the songs together on stage as well.

Sheeran's team contests the allegations, saying "there are dozens if not hundreds of songs that predate and postdate" Gaye's song, "utilizing the same or similar chord progression."

"These medleys are irrelevant to any issue in the case and would be misleading [and] confuse the jury."

Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud&nbsp;shot up America's Billboard Hot 100 charts when it was released, and won Sheeran a Grammy Award for Song of the Year&nbsp;in 2016.

The lawsuit, filed in 2016 -- and refiled in 2017 after being rejected on procedural grounds -- also names Sony.

In Sheeran's London trial, the singer called the lawsuit emblematic of copyright litigation that goes too far, potentially stifling creativity.

The judge agreed, declaring that Sheeran had "neither deliberately nor subconsciously copied" part of the melody in the song Oh Why&nbsp;by Sami Chokri and Ross O'Donoghue. 
 
The judge acknowledged similarities between the two songs, but ultimately ruled there were large differences, and that Chokri's lawyers failed to prove Sheeran had ever heard the song.

Gaye's family is not part of the New York lawsuit against Sheeran, though his estate successfully sued the artists Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I. over similarities between the song Blurred Lines&nbsp;and Gaye's Got to Give it Up.

Jury selection began Monday in a trial to determine whether British pop star Ed Sheeran plagiarized American music legend Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On in his 2014 hit Thinking Out Loud.

Jury selection began Monday in a trial to determine whether British pop star Ed Sheeran plagiarized American music legend Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On in his 2014 hit Thinking Out Loud. The plaintiffs are the heirs of Ed Townsend, a musician and producer who co-wrote Gaye's 1973 soul classic. They allege that there are "striking similarities and overt common elements" between Gaye's sultry classic and Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud. It's not the first time Sheeran has been taken to court, as copyright lawsuits in the music industry flourish. Sheeran testified in a London court in April last year in a case centered around his song Shape of You. He is among the potential witnesses to be called in this trial as well, in which opening arguments were due to begin Tuesday after a jury is selected, a lawyer working on the case told AFP. Townsend's family has pointed out that the group Boyz II Men has performed mash-ups of the two songs, and that Sheeran has blended the songs together on stage as well. Sheeran's team contests the allegations, saying "there are dozens if not hundreds of songs that predate and postdate" Gaye's song, "utilizing the same or similar chord progression." "These medleys are irrelevant to any issue in the case and would be misleading [and] confuse the jury." Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud shot up America's Billboard Hot 100 charts when it was released, and won Sheeran a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2016. The lawsuit, filed in 2016 -- and refiled in 2017 after being rejected on procedural grounds -- also names Sony. In Sheeran's London trial, the singer called the lawsuit emblematic of copyright litigation that goes too far, potentially stifling creativity. The judge agreed, declaring that Sheeran had "neither deliberately nor subconsciously copied" part of the melody in the song Oh Why by Sami Chokri and Ross O'Donoghue. The judge acknowledged similarities between the two songs, but ultimately ruled there were large differences, and that Chokri's lawyers failed to prove Sheeran had ever heard the song. Gaye's family is not part of the New York lawsuit against Sheeran, though his estate successfully sued the artists Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I. over similarities between the song Blurred Lines and Gaye's Got to Give it Up.

Trial begins into whether Ed Sheeran stole Marvin Gaye classic

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Singer Ed Sheeran wins ‘Let's Get It On’ copyright trial, says he's 'very happy'

Trial begins into whether Ed Sheeran stole Marvin Gaye classic