Ed Sheeran faces copyright lawsuit over ‘thinking out loud’

TVC E. Heirs of the composer for Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” sued British musician Ed Sheeran claiming his hit song “Thinking Out Loud” copies core elements of the late soul singer’s 1973 track.

The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the lyrics to “Let’s Get It On” in 1973 and created its musical composition, according to the complaint filed in a federal court in the Southern District of New York.

The lawsuit, which asks for damages to be assessed at a jury trial, argues that the harmonic progressions, melodic and rhythmic elements central to “Let’s Get It On” formed the structure of Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”