Ed Sheeran copyright trial kicks off with claims of a ‘smoking gun’

A high-profile copyright trial over whether Ed Sheeran’s smash single “Thinking Out Loud” copied a classic Marvin Gaye song officially kicked off in a Manhattan federal courtroom on Tuesday.

Ben Crump, a lawyer representing the family of the co-writer for Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get It On,” said in his opening statement that Sheeran played his ballad and Gaye’s song back-to-back in a medley during a concert, and called the moment a “smoking gun.”

Sheeran, who was present in the courtroom, is accused of copying “Let’s Get It On” by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the song with Gaye. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/25/media/ed-sheeran-court-day-one/index.html