Ed Sheeran sued for 'copying' X Factor winner Matt Cardle's song
Singer sued for $20 million
Pop superstar Ed Sheeran is being sued for a massive $20 million after allegedly 'copying' former X Factor winner Matt Cardle's song.
Songwriters, Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard, have filed a lawsuit against Ed and claim his popular track 'Photograph' is a note for note copy of Matt's single 'Amazing'.
The lawsuit was filed to the federal court in Los Angeles by attorney Richard Busch and states "The chorus sections of 'Amazing' and the infringing 'Photograph' share 39 identical notes, meaning the notes are identical in pitch, rhythmic duration and placement in the measure.
"The similarities of words, vocal style, vocal melody, melody, and rhythm are clear indicators, among other things, that 'Photograph' copies 'Amazing'."
Matt won The X Factor back in 2010 after beating off competition from runner up Rebecca Ferguson and released 'Amazing' as his third single one year later. The song failed to make an impact on the UK charts and didn't reach the top 30.
It's a slightly different story for Ed's popular track 'Photograph'. After co-writing the track with Johnny McDaid from Snow Patrol, the song stormed the charts around the world in 2015 and has since become one of Ed's most popular tracks.
Compare the two songs below.
Ed Sheeran – ‘Photograph’
Matt Cardle – ‘Amazing’
Can you hear the similarities?
This isn't the first time a high profile copyright case has hit the courts.
Just last year Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were forced to pay $7.3 million after a court found similarities in their number one track 'Blurred Lines' to Marvin Gaye’s classic 'Got To Give It Up'.
After both refusing to do so, the case went on further and the pay-out was reduced.
Robin Thicke Ft Pharrell - 'Blurred Lines'
Marvin Gaye - 'Got To Give It Up'
Experts in the industry claim the outcome of previous court hearings has left artists ‘worried’.
Ed is yet to comment on the situation.