Ed Sheeran wins $100m Marvin Gaye copyright lawsuit

Ed Sheeran can breathe a sigh of relief after a New York court cleared him of plagiarising Marvin Gaye's 1973 song, 'Let's Get It On'. 

The 32-year-old was facing a $100-million (R1.8-billion) lawsuit from the family of Ed Townsend - the R&B and soul legend's writing partner.

His daughter, Kathryn Griffin Townsend, claimed that Ed's Grammy Award-winning song, 'Thinking Out Loud', copied the chord progression of 'Let's Get It On'. 

Ed testified in the trial and went as far as playing his guitar on the stand so the jury could listen to the open chords. He also sang a bit of his song. 

The singer's lawyers argued that "the two songs share versions of a similar and unprotectable chord progression that was freely available to all songwriters". 

A few days before the jury reached a verdict, Ed vowed that he would quit music if he lost the case. 

"If that happens, I’m done — I’m stopping. I find it really insulting to work my whole life as a singer-songwriter and diminish it," he told the New York Post. 

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Well, it looks like Ed won't be giving up his career anytime soon. 

After deliberating for less than three hours, the seven-person jury cleared the singer of copyright infringement. 

Ed was visibly emotional as the verdict was read. 

"I’m just a guy with a guitar who loves writing music for people to enjoy. I am not and will not allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake," he told reporters outside of the courtroom. 

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Main image credit: Instagram/@teddysphotos