'Very happy' Ed Sheeran wins US copyright trial
The British star buried his face in his hands with relief as he was cleared of copyright allegations!
British pop phenom Ed Sheeran expressed joy and relief Thursday after a US jury found he did not plagiarize Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in composing his hit "Thinking Out Loud," calling the ruling a win for creative freedom.
The English musician hugged his team inside a Manhattan federal courtroom after jurors ruled that he had "independently" created his 2014 song.
Outside, he told reporters he was "very happy" but "unbelievably frustrated that baseless claims like this" even make it to trial.
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The civil lawsuit was filed by heirs of Gaye co-writer Ed Townsend, who alleged that harmonic progressions and rhythmic elements of Sheeran's song were lifted without permission from the classic made famous by Gaye.
The heirs sought a share of the profits from Sheeran's hit.
"If the jury had decided this matter the other way, we might as well say goodbye to the creative freedom of songwriters," Sheeran told reporters.
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"It is devastating and also insulting to be accused of stealing other people's songs when we put so much into our livelihoods," he added. "I am just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy."
"I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake."
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