Ed Sheeran has won his copyright trial over his single, Thinking Out Loud.
He called the win ‘a decision that will help protect the creative process’.
The 32-year-old was accused of copying parts of Marvin Gaye’s track, Let’s Get It On, for the the 2014 offering – something he denied.
He was taken to court by the family of Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer.
They claimed that his track, written with collaborator Amy Wadge, had ‘striking similarities’ and ‘overt common elements’ to the 1973 classic.
After a short deliberation, jurors ruled that he had not infringed on the family’s copyright, and shared their findings yesterday.
He was seen smiling widely as he left the courtroom, looking dapper in a black suit, with a grey tie.
Following the verdict, he shared a statement with People Magazine, which read: ‘I feel like the truth was heard and the truth was believed.
‘It’s nice that we can both move on with our lives now – it’s sad that it had to come to this.’
During the proceedings, which took place in New York, jurors heard from a series of industry experts.
The Grammy-winner took to the stand himself and even performed the hit for the jurors, in a bid to prove his innocence.
On Monday, Sheeran reportedly vowed that he would be ‘done’ with the music industry altogether if he was found liable.
Gaye released Let’s Get It On in 1973 with songwriter Townsend, who died in 2003.
Sheeran released his own song in 2014 – with Townsend’s family launching their lawsuit three years later.
