Ed Sheeran’s defense says no evidence singer copied Marvin Gaye in plagiarism trial

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In closing argument, the artist’s lawyer claimed that Sheeran and co-songwriter Amy Wadge wrote ‘Thinking Out Loud’ based on their own experiences. Ed Sheeran appears in New York courtroom for alleged plagiarism of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ AP Photo/Mary Altaffer Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran’s lawyer asked Wednesday (4) that jurors reject the charge of the British artist of copying the Marvin Gaye classic “Let’s Get it On”, classifying the copyright infringement case involving the hit “Thinking Out Loud” as an attempt to claim ownership over basic elements of the song. In her closing argument in Manhattan federal court, attorney Ilene Farkas said “there wasn’t a single shred of evidence” to contradict the testimony of Sheeran and his co-songwriter Amy Wadge, who told jurors they wrote “Thinking Out Loud ” based on his own experiences and with musical inspiration from singer Van Morrison. “They independently created ‘Thinking Out Loud’,” Farkas said. PODCAST Is it plagiarism or not? Get to know major recent fights and understand chances of Toninho Geraes against Adele The heirs of Ed Townsend, co-composer of Gaye, sued Sheeran in 2017, his label Warner Music Group and his music publisher Sony Music Publishing, alleging violation of his copyright participation in Gaye’s song. Plaintiffs pointed out similar chord progressions and rhythms in the two songs. Farkas told the jury that these were “basic musical building blocks” that nobody owns. She said an expert witness for the heirs tried to mislead the jury by arguing that the melodies of the two songs were similar. “You can hear with your own ears how these melodies sound when played,” Farkas said. “They are not even remotely similar.” A lawyer for the heirs is expected to present closing arguments to the jury later in the afternoon. Gaye, who died in 1984, collaborated with Townsend, who died in 2003, to write “Let’s Get It On”. The song topped the Billboard charts in 1973. “Thinking Out Loud” peaked at number two on the 2015 Billboard Hot 100. Read also: Ed Sheeran plays guitar and sings in court during trial for alleged plagiarism of ‘Thinking out loud’ Ed Sheeran releases charity single with Ukrainian band that is on the front lines of war

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