Marvin Gaye Estate sues Ed Sheeran over ‘Thinking Out Loud’

The estate of the late Ed Townsend have sued Ed Sheeran over her massive hit Thinking Out Loud, claiming that parts were stolen from the song Let’s Get It On, co-written by Townsend and Gaye.



The lawsuit, filed by Kathryn Townsend, Helen McDonald and Cherrigale Townsend have filed a federal lawsuit saying that Sheeran stole “the heart” (“the progressions, melodic and rhythmic elements) of the Gaye song. They also say that Sheeran’s song is “substantially and strikingly similar to Marvin Gaye’s”. The plaintiffs are Sheeran, Gingerbread Records, Sony and Atlantic Records.

The suit is looking to keep Sheeran and the other plaintiffs from continuing to infringe on the copyright, stop the sale of the track and the paying of substantial damages.