Ed Sheeran’s Copyright Case Comes to an End
The United States’ Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to revive the long-standing copyright trial over Ed Sheeran’s hit song "Thinking Out Loud." This move ends a decade-long litigation, including two separate plagiarism cases, both of which have ruled in favor of Sheeran.
Background of the Case
The song, which was written by Sheeran and Amy Wadge in 2014, spent over two years in the British Singles Charts, achieved 4.8 million sales in the UK, and won Song of the Year at the 2016 Grammy Awards. The copyright case was brought by Structured Asset Sales (SAS), who claimed that Sheeran’s song had copied Marvin Gaye’s "Let’s Get It On," in which they have a copyright interest.
The Verdict
A New York jury decided in favor of Sheeran in 2023, and the star spoke about his decision to fight the case in court instead of settling. "I’m not and I will never allow myself to be a piggy bank that someone can shake," he said. The court agreed with previous rulings that the chord progression and harmonic rhythms in Gaye’s song are too common to be legally protected.
Reaction from Amy Wadge
Amy Wadge, who co-wrote "Thinking Out Loud" with Sheeran, expressed her relief at the verdict. "It’s a great relief," she said. "The absolute truth is that the song changed my life. I had no hits until I was 37 years old, and that was the one." Wadge also spoke about the emotional toll the case had taken on her, saying it had "haunted" her for the past 10 years.
Impact on the Music Industry
Wadge believes that the verdict ends "10 long years" of uncertainty and is a victory for creativity in the music industry. "People would tell me that everyone was looking at this case, and I knew that if [SAS] had been successful, it would have been a big problem for creativity in general," she said. "It was a huge responsibility."
A Symbol of Victory
After the 2023 trial, Wadge and Sheeran both got tattoos that contained a sentence from the judge’s ruling: "independently created." When asked if she would do the same again, Wadge laughed and said: "My husband might have a little problem with another tattoo." The songwriter added that she hasn’t spoken to Sheeran since the ruling because he is currently on tour in Europe, but she is sure they will sit down and celebrate soon.
