Ed Sheeran testifies in ‘Let’s Get It On’ copyright suit

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. allegation / ˌæl ɪˈgeɪ ʃən / (n.) – a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal
    Example:

    The entertainment company has not responded yet to the actor’s allegations of abuse.


  2. rip off / rɪp ɔf / (phrasal v.) – to steal or copy something and take it as one’s own
    Example:

    He obviously ripped off this piece from the famous artist. There were very few changes.


  3. striking / ˈstraɪ kɪŋ / (adj.) – very unusual or easily noticed, and therefore attracting a lot of attention
    Example:

    The two actresses are not related but have striking similarities. They look and act alike.


  4. contentious / kənˈtɛn ʃəs / (adj.) – likely to cause disagreement or argument
    Example:

    His contentious statements made some people argue on social media.


  5. give credit where credit is due / gɪv ˈkrɛd ɪt wɛər ˈkrɛd ɪt ɪz du / (idiom) – to admit that someone deserves the praise or special attention for doing something or making something happen
    Example:

    We may not like him sometimes, but we should give credit where credit is due. He gave a great presentation.


Article

Read the text below.

Ed Sheeran took the witness stand in a New York courtroom to deny allegations that his hit song “Thinking Out Loud” ripped off Marvin Gaye’s soul classic “Let’s Get It On.”


Sheeran, 32, was called to testify in the civil trial by the heirs of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer on the 1973 soul classic. The family has accused the English star of violating their copyright, claiming his 2014 hit bore “striking similarities” and “overt common elements” to the famed Gaye track.


Sheeran, in a dark suit and tie, was adamant that he had come up with the song himself. His testimony was at times contentious, as he sparred during cross-examination with the plaintiff’s attorney, Keisha Rice.


In response to video footage played in the courtroom that showed the musician segueing on stage between the two songs, Sheeran said it was “quite simple to weave in and out of songs” that are in the same key.


Ben Crump, lawyer for Townsend’s heirs, said the case was about “giving credit where credit is due.”


Sheeran looked on as his lawyer, Ilene Farkas, insisted that Sheeran and a co-writer, Amy Wadge, wrote their song independently and did not steal from Townsend and Gaye.


She said they “created this heartfelt song without copying ‘Let’s Get It On.’”


The chord progression and basic building blocks in Sheeran’s song are frequently used, and didn’t appear first in “Let’s Get It On,” his lawyer said.


“Let’s Get It On” has been heard in countless films and commercials and garnered hundreds of millions of streams, spins and radio plays since it came out in 1973. “Thinking Out Loud” won a Grammy for Song of the Year in 2016.


The lawsuit was filed in 2017. The trial is expected to last up to two weeks.


Townsend, who also wrote the 1958 R&B doo-wop hit “For Your Love,” was a singer, songwriter and lawyer. He died in 2003.


Kathryn Townsend Griffin, his daughter, is the plaintiff leading the lawsuit.


“I think Mr. Sheeran is a great artist with a great future,” she said in her testimony, adding that she didn’t want it to get to this point of the case. “But I have to protect my father’s legacy.”


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • This lawsuit has recently been decided and Ed Sheeran was found not guilty. Although he won, what do you think is the impact of this lawsuit on his career and his legacy? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, how can artists balance the need to be original and the need to honor other artists that were their inspiration? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Kathryn Townsend, the plaintiff leading the lawsuit, said she has to protect her father’s legacy. Do you agree with her decision to file a lawsuit for this purpose? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What do you think is the impact of this case on musicians (ex. they will be cautious about creating songs, more artists will file a lawsuit against others)? Discuss.