Ed Sheeran wins copyright case over 2017 hit ‘Shape of You’ 

By PTI

LONDON: Grammy Award-winning songwriter Ed Sheeran gained a U.Okay. copyright battle over his 2017 hit “Shape of You” on Wednesday, then slammed what he described as a “culture” of baseless lawsuits meant to squeeze cash out of artists wanting to keep away from the expense of a trial.

The British pop star and his co-writers, Snow Patrol’s John McDaid and producer Steven McCutcheon, had denied allegations that the track copied a part of 2015′s “Oh Why” by Sami Chokri, who performs beneath the title Sami Switch.

“Whilst we’re obviously happy with the result, I feel like claims like this are way too common now and have become a culture where a claim is made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking it to court, even if there is no basis for the claim,” Sheeran mentioned in a video posted on Twitter. “It’s really damaging to the songwriting industry.”

Andrew Sutcliffe, the lawyer for the co-writers of “Oh Why,″ argued that there was an “indisputable similarity between the works.” He claimed that Sheeran had “Oh Why” in his head “consciously or unconsciously” when “Shape of You” was written in 2016.

The plaintiffs alleged that the chorus “Oh I, Oh I, Oh I” within the refrain of “Shape Of You” was “strikingly similar” to the road “Oh why, Oh why, Oh why” of their observe.

ALSO READ | Ed Sheeran faces authorized hassle over 2017 hit track ‘Shape of You’

During the 11-day trial, Sheeran denied allegations that he “borrows” concepts from unknown songwriters with out acknowledgment and mentioned he has all the time been truthful in crediting individuals who contribute to his albums.

In Wednesday’s ruling, High Court Judge Antony Zacaroli concluded that Sheeran “neither deliberately nor subconsciously” copied a phrase from “Oh Why″ when writing his smash hit.

Sheeran, McDaid and Mac mentioned in an announcement that the price of the case was greater than monetary. The stress of going to trial additionally hurts creativity means much less time to make music and takes an emotional toll, they mentioned.

“It is so painful to listen to somebody publicly and aggressively problem your integrity,″ the trio mentioned. “It is so painful to need to defend your self in opposition to accusations that you’ve finished one thing that you simply haven’t finished, and would by no means do.″

“Shape of You” was the biggest-selling track within the U.Okay. in 2017.