Following his recent triumph in a copyright infringement lawsuit over his 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud,” singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has once again emerged victorious in a similar legal battle. In this second lawsuit, US District Judge Louis Stanton, who presided over Sheeran’s previous win, reversed his initial decision and dismissed the case filed against Sheeran by Structured Asset Sales LLC. The lawsuit alleged that Sheeran’s song infringed upon the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 anthem, “Let’s Get It On.”
Judge Stanton stated that the chord progression and harmonic rhythm in “Let’s Get It On” are so commonplace that granting exclusive protection to their combination would create an unacceptable monopoly over a fundamental musical element. This led to the dismissal of the lawsuit against Sheeran.
Structured Asset Sales LLC, which co-owns part of the rights to “Let’s Get It On” along with the late songwriter Ed Townsend, had previously faced defeat in a similar lawsuit against Sheeran. However, the company still has another pending lawsuit against the Grammy-winning artist, focusing on the recordings of the songs rather than the compositional similarities.
In a departure from the previous legal battles, this ongoing lawsuit seeks to compare the actual recordings of “Thinking Out Loud” and “Let’s Get It On.” Structured Asset Sales LLC’s owner, investment banker David Pullman, aims to have the songs played side by side in court. Pullman initiated the lawsuit five years after Townsend’s heirs filed their own legal action in 2017.
Following his legal victories, Ed Sheeran expressed his satisfaction in a statement, highlighting his refusal to become a mere financial resource and emphasizing his identity as a musician who passionately creates music for people’s enjoyment.
The recent ruling by Judge Stanton holds significant implications not only for Ed Sheeran and collaborator Amy Wadge but also for songwriters and music enthusiasts. The decision underscores the court’s acknowledgment of common musical elements and their limitations in terms of copyright protection.
The forthcoming lawsuit from Structured Asset Sales LLC, focusing on the recordings of the songs, will provide the jury with an opportunity to directly compare the two versions. This development marks a crucial juncture in the ongoing legal dispute.
Ed Sheeran’s triumph over copyright allegations serves as a testament to the complexities surrounding artistic creation and the boundaries of intellectual property law. The outcomes of these legal battles will undoubtedly shape the future landscape of music copyright.
