Ed Sheeran Sued Over $20 million Copyright Infringement for Top-Hit 'Photograph'; Case Details and Song Comparison
The world's favorite ginger head and balladeer, Ed Sheeran, has been slapped with a major $20-million copyright infringement charge over his summer hit, "Photograph."
Filing their case Wednesday before a Los Angeles court, two US musicians, Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard, are accusing the British songwriter of "verbatim, note-for-note copying" of their 2009 song, "Amazing," which they penned for 2012 X-Factor winner Matt Cardle.
Johnny McDaid, songwriter for Snow Patrol, was also named defendant in the suit.
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The two song writers alleged that the similarities between the two songs go beyond substantial and are striking to say the least. According to them, the chorus in Sheeran's Photograph mimicked not only the melody, but also the words, vocal style, and rhythm--which to them is "breathtaking in its deliberateness, magnitude, and hubris."
In the accompanying court documents, Harrington and Leonard highlighted the similarities in the chorus of "Photograph" and "Amazing," claiming that Sheeran's ballad used the same chord progression as their song.
Cardle's "Amazing" was viewed more than 1 million times on YouTube since 2012, while Sheeran's "Photograph" recorded more than 200 million views and sold 3.5 million copies in the US alone. The ballad was also licensed to a major motion picture, "Me Before You," this year.
Sheeran joins the long list of singers who have been charged with copyright infringement, among them Robin Thicke and Pharell, who lost a cool $5.3 million over "Blurred Lines" to the late Marvin Gaye's heirs, who claimed that the duo stole Gaye's "Got to Give It Up."
Incidentally, Harrington and Leonard are represented by Richard Busch, the same attorney that won the "Blurred Lines" case.
The two song writers have a prolific record, having written for high-profile celebrities such as Kylie Minogue, Madonna, and Spice Girl Emma Bunton.
Do you think Sheeran plagiarized his song? Listen to both songs below:
