In a Manhattan courtroom, a verdict was reached on Ed Sheeran’s song Thinking Out Loud: the court concluded that the composition did not infringe copyright. The decision came after a plagiarism case spearheaded by Ed Townsend, one of the book’s co-authors who argued that the track bore similarities to Marvin Gaye’s classic Let’s Get It On and shared its rhythm. Throughout the trial, Townsend claimed the arrangement echoed a familiar four-chord sequence, while Sheeran performed the piece on a guitar in the courtroom to illustrate his memory of the arrangement. The jury’s ruling negated the accusation, and the case moved away from a potentially defining moment for the artist’s catalog to a vindication that affirmed the originality of the work and its arrangement—an outcome many observers described as a pivotal test of modern pop songwriting rights. (Source attribution: court records, contemporaneous coverage.)
Townsend had already pursued legal action against Sheeran, raising concerns about the similarities between Thinking Out Loud and Let’s Get It On. Amy Wadge, co-writer of Thinking Out Loud, supported Townsend’s view by highlighting the shared rhythm and chord progression that some listeners and critics described as strikingly similar. During proceedings, Sheeran performed the song live with his guitar, providing a direct demonstration of how the piece is structured and how it is performed. The defense emphasized the broader tradition of common musical progressions and argued that the similarities do not amount to copyright infringement. The outcome underscored the nuanced threshold between inspiration and infringement in contemporary pop music. If the verdict had gone the other way, the implications for artists and publishers would have been significant, potentially reshaping how melody, rhythm, and chord sequences are treated in court. (Source attribution: court records, contemporaneous coverage.)
Following the positive decision, the British singer-songwriter can continue his career with renewed momentum and promote forthcoming work with confidence. The album Subtract is slated for full release, with the project scheduled to roll out in the near term and a formal public date set for a major rollout. The anticipated project represents a continued evolution of the artist’s sound, with supporters noting the way this record expands on personal storytelling and melodic craft. (Source attribution: press materials, industry coverage.)