A jury found Ed Sheeran, a British musician not guilty of stealing significant portions of Marvin Gaye’s iconic 1970s song “Let’s Get It On” in order to make his famous song “Thinking Out Loud” and it is confirmed by the Tweet provided below:
BREAKING: British singer Ed Sheeran didn’t steal key components of Marvin Gaye’s classic 1970s tune “Let’s Get It On” when he created his hit song “Thinking Out Loud,” a jury has decided. https://t.co/3zwam8QtCi
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 4, 2023
As soon as the seven-person jury announced its decision after more than two hours of deliberation, the emotions of an epic copyright battle that spanned most of the previous ten years came out. Sheeran buried his face in his hands for a while in reassurance before getting up to embrace his lawyer, Ilene Farkas.
Sheeran grinned and nodded his head at numerous jurors as they left the courtroom in front of him, mouthing the words “Thank you.” He afterward posed with a juror who was standing behind him.
He also spoke with plaintiff Kathryn Townsend Griffin, the daughter of Ed Townsend who had testified and co-wrote the 1973 soul song with Gaye. During their about 10-minute conversation, they exchanged hugs, smiled and even clasped hands briefly.
Later, Sheeran spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, revisiting his remark from the trial that if he lost, he might consider giving up songwriting.
The singer said:
“I am certainly thrilled with how this case turned out and it appears that I won’t have to give up my day job after all. But at the same time, I find it incredibly frustrating that such flimsy accusἀtions can even be brought in court.”
In addition, he claimed that the trial prevented him from attending his grandmother’s bμrial in Ireland and that he “will never get that time back.” Griffin claimed to be relieved once the verdict was announced within the courtroom.
She said, “I’m just glad it’s over, We can be friends.” She expressed her gratitude for Sheeran’s approach. She claimed that although her copyright action wasn’t personal, she was keeping her promise to her father to defend his intellectual property.
A jury member named Sophia Neis informed reporters following the verdict there was not an instantaneous unanimity when discussions started.
Neis said:
“Everyone had opinions going in. Both sides had advocated, There was a lot of back and forth.”
Sheeran sat alongside his legal team throughout the trial, defending himself against the complaint brought up by Townsend’s heirs who claimed that “Thinking Out Loud” breached the copyright protection of “Let’s Get It On” due to its striking resemblance to the song. But finally, Jury finds Ed Sheeran didn’t copy Marvin Gaye’s classic.
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