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After a long-running legal saga that’s spanned nearly a decade, Ed Sheeran has officially emerged victorious, his “Thinking Out Loud” copyright lawsuit will not proceed to the US Supreme Court, ending the battle once and for all.
The lawsuit, brought by one of the heirs of Ed Townsend (co-writer of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”), alleged that Sheeran’s 2014 chart-topping ballad bore “substantial similarities” to the soul classic.
But on Thursday, the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal, upholding a previous ruling that sided with Sheeran, who has fiercely defended the originality of his song from day one.
In a previous courtroom appearance, Ed even brought his guitar to perform a live demo of how he composed “Thinking Out Loud,” showing the chord progressions were common and not copied.
Speaking after the final decision, Sheeran’s legal team said: “This decision affirms what Ed has maintained all along, that he created 'Thinking Out Loud' independently and with great care. We're pleased this matter is finally put to rest.”
Ed himself previously expressed frustration at the lawsuit, warning that songwriters everywhere could be affected if common musical elements became the basis for copyright claims.
“If I’d lost this case, it would’ve been a very dark day for creativity,” he told reporters after a lower court victory.
The ruling marks a huge moment for the music industry, especially in a time where lawsuits over similar-sounding tracks have become more frequent. Recent years have seen major cases involving Katy Perry, Led Zeppelin, and Pharrell Williams.
While some believe copyright laws need reform to protect originality, others argue that not every four-chord sequence is theft.
Either way, Ed can finally rest easy knowing “Thinking Out Loud” remains fully his, and that fans won’t have to worry about their wedding song being banned.
