He can breathe a sigh of relief, Ed Sheeran will not have worried in the case which accused him of having plagiarized several producers to compose the title Shape of You, one of his greatest hits. He pockets a nice jackpot in passing since justice has finally given him entirely right.
British pop star Ed Sheeran was awarded more than a million euros in damages on Tuesday to cover his legal costs in a successful legal battle against songwriters who accused him of plagiarism. In early April, the 31-year-old singer won his case before the High Court in London, after a lawsuit he considered emblematic of abusive practices that undermine the music industry.
For justice, he did not copy, nor “deliberately“, neither “unconsciously“, part of the melody of the song oh why (2015) by Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue for his planetary hit Shape of Youone of the best-selling titles in the world. In a supplementary judgment on Tuesday, Judge Antony Zacaroli ruled that the unsuccessful plaintiffs should pay court costs of £916,200 (currently €1.067 million).
During the trial, which lasted ten days in March, the two titles were broadcast – as well as, by mistake, an extract from one of his unreleased songs. Ed Sheeran then denied “to borrow“ideas of little-known composers, while plaintiffs’ attorney, while acknowledging his”genius“, had accused him of being “a magpie“, in reference to the bird which is sometimes accused of being a thief.
Relieved of this thorn in the side, the 31-year-old singer will be able to devote himself serenely to his family, he who has just been a dad for the second time last May. He is now raising two beautiful daughters with his girlfriend Cherry Seaborn.