Archive · 17 Jun 2025
Supreme Court Rejects Copyright Case Over Sheeran's Song
Imagine a song sounds a bit like another.
A company that owns part of Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get It On" thought Ed Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud" copied it.
They sued Sheeran.
However, a judge said the parts they claimed were copied were too basic to be protected by copyright.
The Supreme Court agreed not to hear the case.
Plus, Sheeran won a separate trial about this.
So, Sheeran won.
The Supreme Court declined to hear a copyright lawsuit against Ed Sheeran.
The lawsuit concerned Sheeran's song "Thinking Out Loud" and its alleged similarities to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."
Structured Asset Sales, holding partial rights to Gaye's song, initiated the legal action.
A district judge initially sided with Sheeran, citing common musical elements.
A jury in a separate case, brought by Ed Townsend's heirs, also ruled in favor of Sheeran.
- Who
- The case involved Ed Sheeran, Structured Asset Sales, and the estates of Marvin Gaye and Ed Townsend.
- What
- The Supreme Court declined to hear a copyright infringement lawsuit regarding Ed Sheeran's song "Thinking Out Loud."
- When
- The Supreme Court made the decision recently.
- Where
- The U.S. Supreme Court.
- Why
- Structured Asset Sales claimed Sheeran copied elements from "Let's Get It On".
Copyright Holders
Ed Sheeran
Copyright Infringement
Copyright Holders
Ed Sheeran's song infringed on the copyright of "Let's Get It On."
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran's song does not infringe on the copyright of "Let's Get It On."
- Plaintiff
- Structured Asset Sales
- Defendant
- Ed Sheeran
- Accused Song
- "Thinking Out Loud"
- Original Song
- "Let's Get It On"
- Copyright Interest Holder
- Structured Asset Sales
- Judge's Ruling
- Elements too common for copyright protection
