Ed Sheeran Copyright Trial: Verdict Pending After Jury Deliberations

The Ed Sheeran copyright infringement trial has gone into deliberations after closing statements. The judge instructed the jury that independent creation is a complete defense, and the plaintiffs needed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Sheeran actually copied and wrongfully copied Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." Sheeran's attorney argued that similarities in chords or rhythm are basic musical building blocks that songwriters must be free to use. The trial began six months after Townsend's heirs filed their copyright suit.