Ed Sheeran is facing a lawsuit over claims that he infringed on a Marvin Gaye classic.
A company called Structured Asset Sales is seeking $100 million in damages, claiming Ed’s 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud” is a copy of Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.”
According to the suit (via TMZ), Sheeran’s song has the same melody, rhythms, harmonies, drums, bassline, backing chorus, tempo, syncopation and looping as Gaye’s 1973 hit.
Gaye’s song was co-written by Edward Townsend and Gaye. Townsend died in 2003, and Structured Asset Sales purchased one-third of the copyright to “Let’s Get It On.” Structured says Ed’s single and the album it’s from, x, sold more than 15 million copies and that the song has been streamed more than 1 billion times on YouTube.
“Thinking Out Loud” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016.
