<
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/04/ed-sheeran-verdict-not-liable-copyright-lawsuit-marvin-gaye>
"A jury in New York has ruled that British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is not
liable for copyright infringement in a case that has been closely watched by
the global entertainment industry.
The case centered on whether Sheeran ripped off Marvin Gaye’s
Let’s Get It On
and will be seen as a major victory for recording artists.
Sheeran had made an earlier claim that he would quit the industry if he lost
the case. “If that happens, I’m done, I’m stopping,” he said. “I find it really
insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and
have someone diminish it.”
After the verdict had been delivered Sheeran hugged his lawyer. His wife,
Cherry Seaborn, and co-writer, Amy Wadge, were reportedly in tears.
Outside court, Sheeran told reporters: “I am obviously very happy with the
outcome of the case and it looks like I am not having to retire from my day job
after all. But at the same time I’m unbelievably frustrated that baseless
claims like this are allowed to go to court at all.”
He said it was “devastating” to be accused of stealing someone else’s song and
called himself “just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to
enjoy” and will never allow himself to be “a piggybank for anyone to shake”.
Sheeran’s lawyer, Ilene Farkas, had told the jurors in Manhattan federal court
that similarities in the chord progressions and rhythms of Gaye’s classic and
Sheeran’s hit
Thinking Out Loud were “the letters of the alphabet of music”.
“These are basic musical building blocks that songwriters now and forever must
be free to use, or all of us who love music will be poorer for it,” she said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
