Ed Sheeran wins Thinking Out Loud copyright case

Ed Sheeran did not transcript Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On erstwhile composing Thinking Out Loud, a US tribunal has ruled.

The British singer-songwriter had denied stealing elements of the opus for his 2014 worldwide hit.

Heirs of Gaye's co-writer argued that Sheeran, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Publishing owed them wealth for copyright infringement.

Sheeran reportedly told the proceedings successful New York that if helium was recovered blameworthy helium would springiness up his euphony career.

"If that happens, I'm done, I'm stopping," helium said erstwhile asked astir the toll the proceedings astatine Manhattan national tribunal was taking connected him.

During the civilian proceedings Sheeran sang and played parts of Thinking Out Loud connected the guitar.

He said helium wrote the opus astatine location successful England with his person Amy Wadge, and had been inspired by his grandparents and a caller romanticist narration helium had conscionable begun.

Sheeran's lawyer, Ilene Farkas, told the jurors that similarities successful the chord progressions and rhythms of the 2 songs were "the letters of the alphabet of music."

"These are basal philharmonic gathering blocks that songwriters present and everlastingly indispensable beryllium escaped to use, oregon each of america who emotion euphony volition beryllium poorer for it," she said.

Keisha Rice, who represented the heirs of Gaye's co-writer Ed Townsend said her clients were not claiming to ain basal philharmonic elements but alternatively "the mode successful which these communal elements were uniquely combined."

"Mr Sheeran is counting connected you to beryllium very, precise overwhelmed by his commercialized success," she said, urging jurors to usage their "common sense" to determine whether the songs are similar.

Sheeran is besides facing claims implicit Thinking Out Loud from a institution owned by concern banker David Pullman that holds copyright interests successful the Gaye song.

In 2015 Gaye's heirs won a $5.3m judgment from a suit claiming the Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams opus Blurred Lines copied Gaye's Got to Give It Up.