COVID-19: Ed Sheeran’s Plagiarism Trial Postponed
The copyright infringement trial against British singer and songwriter, Ed Sheeran, earlier billed for this month has been postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2016, the singer has been embattled in a lawsuit by the heirs of Let’s Get It On co-writer, Ed Townsend through the US courts over allegations that he had ripped off the “melody, harmony and rhythm compositions” of the Gaye classic on his 2014 record Thinking Out Loud.
Townsend co-wrote Let’s Get It On with Marvin Gaye in 1973.
Federal Judge Louis Stanton said in his ruling Oct. 15 on postponing the case:
“At present there is no prospect of certainty that the trial will go forward as scheduled.”
He added; “On the other hand, it seems reasonable to expect that the conditions will have improved by next Spring.”
Sheeran had made several attempts to dismiss the lawsuit; but Stanton ruled that there was enough evidence to present to a jury to let them decide on the case.
