On June 28, 2018, Ed Sheeran was slapped with another copyright infringement lawsuit over his 2014 hit “Thinking out Loud” which Mavin Gaye’s estate contends is substantially similar to the Marvin Gaye song “Let’s Get It On.” A similar lawsuit was filed in 2016 against Sheeran which sought $100 million in damages by the family of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote Gaye’s song “Let’s Get It On.” That case was dismissed without prejudice (meaning it could be re-filed).

This new case claims Sheeran’s hit is “strikingly similar” to Gaye’s song “Let’s Get It On” in terms of melody, harmony, drums, bass line, backing chorus, tempo and syncopation. The new complaint alleges “Sheeran himself regularly performs both songs together in a ‘mashup’ format, moving from one song to the other and back again…Sheeran transitioned seamlessly between the lyrics of the two songs without changing the notes, tempo, rhythm or any other elements.”

The case is Structured Asset Sales, LLC v. Sheeran et al, case number 1:18-cv-05839, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

* With over thirty years of experience as an attorney, Steven Lowe is one of the most highly regarded entertainment lawyers in Los Angeles. Cases his firm has handled have appeared in the Hollywood Reporter numerous times, and he has been consistently selected as a top rated attorney in Super Lawyers magazine, among other awards and achievements. Mr. Lowe is also a Co-Founder and current President of the California Society of Entertainment Lawyers, a not-for-profit artists’ rights organization.

Find us at our website at www.LoweLaw.com