Musician Ed Sheeran was found not guilty of copyright infringement by a Manhattan jury – and reportedly released a new album just hours later. The British singer-songwriter had been accused of plagiarizing Marvin Gaye’s 1973 song “Let’s Get It On” for his 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud”. The suit was filed in 2017 and took years to reach a courtroom.
Music has always been a powerful tool for expression and communication – and Sheeran is joining a list of many other artists who have faced legal battles over alleged copyright infringement, with some cases becoming famous for their impact on the music industry.
Here is a sampling of some most famous copyright infringement cases regarding music:
“Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams vs. Marvin Gaye’s estate (2015)
One of the most high-profile cases in recent years, the “Blurred Lines” lawsuit saw Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams sued by the estate of Marvin Gaye for allegedly copying elements of Gaye’s song “Got to Give It Up.” The jury found Thicke and Williams guilty of copyright infringement and awarded the Gaye estate $7.4 million in damages.
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin vs. Spirit (2016)
Led Zeppelin was accused of plagiarizing the opening guitar riff of their hit song “Stairway to Heaven” from the song “Taurus” by the band Spirit. The lawsuit was brought by the estate of Spirit’s guitarist Randy Wolfe, who claimed that Led Zeppelin had access to “Taurus” and copied its distinctive riff. After a high-profile trial, a jury ruled in favor of Led Zeppelin, finding no substantial similarity between the two songs.
“My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison vs. The Chiffons (1976)
In 1976, former Beatle George Harrison was sued by The Chiffons for copyright infringement over his hit song “My Sweet Lord.” The Chiffons claimed that the song was too similar to their own hit “He’s So Fine.” Harrison was found guilty of “subconscious plagiarism” and ordered to pay damages to The Chiffons.
“Ice Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice vs. Queen and David Bowie (1990)
Vanilla Ice’s hit song “Ice Ice Baby” sampled the bassline from Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” without permission. After being threatened with legal action, Vanilla Ice agreed to pay royalties to the copyright holders of “Under Pressure.”
“Gotye” by Somebody That I Used to Know vs. Luiz Bonfa (2012)
Australian singer-songwriter Gotye was accused of copying elements of Luiz Bonfa’s song “Seville” in his hit single “Somebody That I Used to Know.” Bonfa’s estate claimed that the guitar riff in Gotye’s song was too similar to “Seville.” The case was eventually settled out of court, with the terms undisclosed.
Copyright infringement cases in the music industry can have a significant impact on both the artists and the industry as a whole. With the rise of technology and digital media, it’s more important than ever for artists and creators to understand their rights and responsibilities when it comes to copyright law.
Source
Ed Sheeran news – live: Singer releases new album Subtract after winning Marvin Gaye lawsuit
Image courtesy of Wes Hicks