Ed Sheeran faces lawsuit for 'copying' Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let's Get It On’

Singing superstar Ed Sheeran could be facing legal action over his track 'Thinking Out Loud' after heirs of the composer for Marvin Gaye's track 'Let's Get It On' sued him.

Heirs of the composer, Ed Townsend, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit claiming Ed Sheeran's track has copied 'core elements' of the 1973 soul track.

The lawsuit argues that harmonic progressions and rhythmic elements of 'Let's Get It On' form the main structure for 'Thinking Out Loud'. It states "The Defendants copied the 'heart' of 'Let's' and repeated it continuously throughout 'Thinking'. The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of 'Thinking' are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of 'Let's'."

'Let's Get It On' was released back in 1973 and has since become one of the biggest soul tracks. Take a listen below:

Ed Sheeran released his track 'Thinking Out Loud' in 2014 and hit number one in the charts later in the year. Take a listen below:

The claims come just months after Matt Cardle's song writers sued Ed for €20 million after stating his track 'Photograph' was 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 stated "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."

Compare the two songs below:

Ed Sheeran: 'Photograph'

Matt Cardle: 'Amazing'

Marvin Gaye's family were also awarded $7.4 million last year after successfully suing Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke for their copyright infringement involving popular track 'Blurred Lines'.

Ed and his management are yet to comment on the new case.

• Marvin Gaye
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