Ed Sheeran says he will quit music if he loses copyright infringement case

02 May 2023 , 19:05

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Ed Sheeran has been at the copyright infringement trial about his song Thinking Out Loud (Image: Edna Leshowitz/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

Ed Sheeran has reportedly suggested that he will quit his music career if he's found liable for copyright infringement in the court case centred on his song Thinking Out Loud.

The musician, 32, has been sued by the heirs of the late Ed Townsend, who is credited as having co-written Marvin Gaye's song Let's Get It On. It was released in 1973.

It has been claimed that Sheeran's award-winning song Thinking Out Loud plagiarised harmonic progressions as well as melodic and rhythmic elements from the other song.

His defence instead argue that Sheeran's song - which was released in 2014 and later went on to win two Grammy Awards - was created "without copying" Let's Get It On.

Townsend's estate are said to be seeking a share of the profits from Sheeran's song, which had featured on his second album Multiply, which was also released in 2014.

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Ed Sheeran has been sued over alleged copyright infringement relating to his song Thinking Out Loud (John Minchillo/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

The ongoing trial over the alleged similarities between the songs began on April 24 at the Manhattan Federal Court and it has continued at the court in New York this week.

Sheeran testified as part of the trial last week and he is understood to have returned to the courtroom to provide further testimony during proceedings on Monday (May 1).

As reported by the MailOnline, Sheeran suggested he will quit music if he loses the case. He said about the prospect of losing: "If that happens, I'm done, I'm stopping."

Sheeran, pictured leaving Manhattan Federal Court on May 1, has been in attendance at the trial (Edna Leshowitz/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

"I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it," he added when speaking to the court.

Last week, Sheeran is said to have performed a version of Thinking Out Loud in the courtroom during proceedings. He reportedly played a guitar to demonstrate how he came up with the lyrics and the chord progression.

It has been previously reported that if the jury finds Sheeran liable for copyright infringement, the trial will enter a second phase to determine how much he and his record labels owe in damages.

The trial continues.

Joel Leaver