Ed Sheeran‘s copyright case for “Thinking Out Loud” is far from the first of its kind, but it sets a new precedent for all cases regarding musical integrity going forward. How does Sheeran’s situation influence the songs market, as well as what has triggered the current increase in copyright instances?
The newest episode of Billboard Explains dives in to songs copyright legal actions of the past as well as existing, beginning with Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” versus Marvin Gaye‘s 1973 hit “Let’s Get It On” as well as discussing instances with Robin Thicke as well as extra.
Gaye’s family members as well as “Let’s Get It On” co-writer Ed Townsend implicated Sheeran of duplicating Gaye’s hit, however the court ruled that the British vocalist did not duplicate components of the track. Thicke as well as Pharrell Williams, that collaborated on “Blurred Lines,” came under attack from the Gaye family members also, when they were implicated of duplicating Gaye’s 1977 track “Got to Give It Up.” In Thicke’s situation, he confessed that he was straight influenced by the track as well as called it as one of his preferred tracks ever before; the court ruled that Thicke as well as Williams were guilty as well as were purchased to pay Gaye’s family members $5 million along with half of the track’s aristocracies.
While Thicke’s situation turned the pendulum as well as made musicians extra afraid concerning possible legal actions, Sheeran’s situation confirms that musicians have an opportunity to effectively protect their job as well as agree to eliminate rather than clearing up beyond court.
After the video, capture up on even more Billboard Explains video clips as well as discover just how Beyoncé arrived at Renaissance, the evolution of girl groups, BBMAs, NFTs, SXSW, the magic of boy bands, American Music Awards, the Billboard Latin Music Awards, the Hot 100 chart, how R&B/hip-hop became the biggest genre in the U.S., how festivals book their lineups, Billie Eilish’s formula for success, the history of rap battles, nonbinary awareness in music, the Billboard Music Awards, the Free Britney movement, rise of K-pop in the U.S., why Taylor Swift is re-recording her first six albums, the boom of hit all-female collaborations, how Grammy nominees and winners are chosen, why songwriters are selling their publishing catalogs, how the Super Bowl halftime show is booked as well as why Olivia Rodrigo’s “Drivers License” was able to shoot to No. 1 on the Hot 100.
