The Supreme Court has dismissed a copyright appeal alleging that Ed Sheeran’s song “Thinking Out Loud” infringes upon Marvin Gaye’s work, according to reports.
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On Monday, June 16, the attempt to reopen a copyright case accusing the pop star of copying Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get It On” was denied.
Ed Sheeran Gains Legal Win as Supreme Court Declines to Hear Copyright Appeal Over “Thinking Out Loud”
Ed Sheeran has scored a significant legal victory. On Monday, June 16, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an appeal aiming to reinstate a long-running copyright lawsuit that accused the British singer of copying elements of Marvin Gaye’s 1973 hit “Let’s Get It On” for his 2014 single “Thinking Out Loud,” according to Reuters.
The appeal was brought by Structured Asset Sales, a company with a financial interest in Gaye’s song. The justices refused to revisit a prior ruling that dismissed the lawsuit, effectively upholding the decision in Sheeran’s favor.
Structured Asset Sales, owned by investment banker David Pullman, had originally taken legal action against Sheeran, Warner Music, and Sony Music Publishing. The company sought financial compensation, arguing that “Thinking Out Loud” featured notable similarities to Gaye’s iconic track.
The rights held by Structured Asset Sales stem from shares once owned by Ed Townsend, Gaye’s co-writer on “Let’s Get It On.”
Speaking to the BBC on June 17, Amy Wadge — Sheeran’s collaborator on “Thinking Out Loud” — expressed relief. “It’s been a cloud over my life for a decade, but now it’s over,” she said. Wadge noted that the track was a turning point in her career, having been her first major success at the age of 37. “It changed everything for me,” she recalled. “Then suddenly, it felt like I was being attacked from every direction. It was terrifying.”
However, the legal battle may not be entirely over. In a statement provided to PEOPLE, Pullman stated that another federal case, which had been on hold, would now proceed in a New York court. This second case involves both the original sound recording and handwritten sheet music from “Let’s Get It On.” He suggested this new case could eventually make its way back to the Supreme Court.
The original appeal was dismissed in November 2024 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The court concluded that while both songs shared basic musical components, such elements—like chord progressions and rhythmic patterns—are not subject to copyright protection. The court determined that these similarities were not substantial enough to warrant an infringement claim.
Sheeran has faced multiple legal disputes related to “Thinking Out Loud” since its release in 2014. The earliest lawsuit came in 2017, filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend. His daughter, Kathryn Griffin Townsend, was the lead plaintiff in that civil trial.