Judge Refuses Request And Ed Sheeran Will Face Plagiarism Charges

An American judge today rejected an attempt by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran to dismiss one of three lawsuits accusing him of copying his 2014 hit "Thinking Out Loud" from the 1973 classic "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye .

Judge Ronnie Abrams of Manhattan ruled that Structured Asset Sales, which owns one-third of the rights to "Let's Get It On" to co-author Ed Townsend, can sue Sheeran, Sony Music Publishing and others involved in the registration of rights April 2020 copyright for a studio recording of the song.

That record "allows the court to reasonably infer that the claimant owns the copyright in 2020" and can proceed with the copyright suit, Abrams said.

Despite this, Abrams put the case on hold, citing a "significant overlap" in the plaintiff's action against Sheeran for the 1973 rights based solely on the score of Gaye's song.

Structured Asset Sales, owned by investment banker David Pullman, seeks more than $ 100 million (approximately R $ 580 million) in damages.

The 2020 record for "Let's Get It On" allegedly includes "musical elements" that are not present in the score.

Lawyers for Sheeran and Sony did not immediately respond to requests for comment.