Ed Sheeran’s plagiarism trial has finally come to an end, with the jury now set to deliberate.
Kathryn Townsend Griffin, the daughter of Ed Townsend, who worked with Gaye on the song, has been arguing that there are ‘striking similarities’ between the two songs, as well as ‘overt common elements’ that violates their copyright.
Sheeran has been consistent throughout the case that he has done nothing wrong, and that lots of tunes share certain characteristics, but that doesn’t mean there’s been any plagiarism.
And in her closing argument, the singer’s attorney, Ilene S Farkas, said the trial should ‘never have been brought’ in the first place.
She told the court: “Ed Townsend did not create these basic musical building blocks.
“Ed Townsend was not the first songwriter to use and combine these elements. It was not original.”
Griffin’s team had argued during the trial that they had a ‘smoking gun’ that would prove their case.
The evidence they were referring to was a video of Sheeran performing a mash up of ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and ‘Let’s Get It On’ at a concert.
Explaining the video, Sheeran told the court when giving evidence that it was just something he did with loads of tracks.
“I mash up songs at lots of gigs,” he said. “Many songs have similar chords. You can go from ‘Let It Be’ to ‘No Woman No Cry’ and switch back.
“And quite frankly, if I’d done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be quite an idiot to stand on a stage in front of 20,000 people and do that.”
Referring to the argument, Farkas said during his closing statement: “Simply put, the plaintiffs’ smoking gun was shooting blanks.”
The decision is now left up to the jury, who will return later today (May 4) to deliberate.
“If that happens, I’m done, I’m stopping,” he told his lawyer.
“I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone lessen it.”