The U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear the copyright appeal involving Ed Sheeran’s 2014 hit song “Thinking Out Loud.” The case, brought by Structured Asset Sales, claimed that Sheeran had copied elements from Marvin Gaye’s 1973 classic “Let’s Get It On.” With the Court’s decision to deny certiorari, the previous ruling stands, affirming that the similarities between the two songs were based on fundamental musical building blocks—elements not protected by copyright law.
This legal battle, which has spanned several years, raised critical questions about the limits of copyright protection in the music industry. The plaintiffs argued that the chord progressions and melodies of Sheeran’s hit were too similar to Gaye’s track, suggesting an infringement of Gaye’s intellectual property. However, the court ruled that the similarities identified in the case were based on basic musical elements, such as chord progressions, which are widely used in countless songs and are not eligible for copyright protection.
For Sheeran and his co-writer, Amy Wadge, the Supreme Court’s decision is a relief. Wadge, who helped write “Thinking Out Loud,” shared her emotions following the ruling, calling the prolonged legal ordeal a significant burden. “It’s been a long journey, and we are just relieved that this is finally behind us,” Wadge said. “The stress of the situation was overwhelming at times, and now we can move forward with our work.”
The case, which initially began in 2016, had sparked significant attention in the music industry and beyond, as it raised important issues regarding the ownership of common musical elements. While Sheeran defended his work as original, the case sparked debate about the fine line between inspiration and infringement in a genre where musical ideas are often built on shared influences.
With the Supreme Court declining to intervene, the previous ruling stands as a significant victory for Sheeran, reaffirming the principle that fundamental musical building blocks cannot be owned. It also serves as an important precedent for future copyright cases, particularly in the music industry, where questions about originality and influence are frequently contested.
The ruling brings closure to a high-profile legal matter for Sheeran, allowing him to move forward with his career without the shadow of litigation hanging over his hit song. For the music industry, the decision reinforces the notion that basic elements of musical composition remain free for use, ensuring that artists can continue to draw inspiration from the vast history of music without fear of litigation for creating songs that may bear similarities to prior works.
