Music
Ed Sheeran: Trial for alleged copyright infringement
Ed Sheeran apparently wants to testify himself in court. photo
© Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Ed Sheeran won the copyright dispute over his song “Shape of You” last year. Now the superstar is facing a new trial.
The British singer Ed Sheeran (32) has to deal with alleged copyright infringements again in court. The heirs of US musician Ed Townsend, who died in 2003, accuse Sheeran of copying at least part of his song “Thinking Out Loud” from the song “Let’s Get It On”, which Townsend had released with his colleague Marvin Gaye. Sheeran’s attorneys deny the allegation. These are well-known chords that any musician can use.
The process, which has already been postponed several times, began on Monday with the selection of the jury, as the competent court in Manhattan confirmed to the German Press Agency. According to US media reports, Sheeran wants to testify in the process himself.
The musician, like some of his colleagues – such as Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams – have repeatedly been confronted with allegations of copyright infringement in recent years. While the plaintiffs want to claim violations of their rights, musicians like Sheeran argue that sheet music and chords are in the public domain.