The jury has reached its verdict, and Ed Sheeran is officially not liable of ripping off Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On.”
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With the conclusion of the copyright trial coming to a head on Thursday, the Manhattan federal jury verdict has officially found Sheeran not liable of copying elements of Gaye’s 1973 R&B classic when creating his 2014 hit song “Thinking Out Loud.”
Following a two-week trial that saw Sheeran take the stand and perform for the jury as a way to show them his creative process, as well as hearing from dueling music experts who composed arguments about whether “Thinking Out Loud” used musical elements such as chord progression, melodies and anticipation, that were previously used in “Let’s Get it On,” it took the group of jurors less than three hours to come to their conclusion.
In addition to playing the tune, Ed testified, noting that Marvin’s song was nowhere near his or his co-writer Amy Wadge's minds when they brought his track to life. And added that he’d be "quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people" after ripping off a classic.
Ed also claimed he'd quit music forever if he lost. Whether if he was serious or not, we’re all glad the odds were in his favor.
Sheeran will release his new album, Subtract, on Friday May 5. Listen to music from his latest LP along with his favorite songs on Ed Sheeran's Favorites above, hosted and curated by Ed himself.
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