Ed Sheeran wins trial over ‘Shape Of You’ copyright accusation

Ed Sheeran and his co-songwriters on 'Shape Of You,’ the 2017 Grammy-winning pop track, have been awarded over €1 million in legal costs after winning their UK High Court copyright trial. The trial, which began this March, accused Sheeran, along with co-writers John McDaid of Snow Patrol and producer Steven McCutcheon, of copying the lyrics from a 2015 song by Sami Chokri and Ross O'Donoghue.

Ultimately, it was determined that Sheeran “Neither deliberately nor subconsciously" copied a line in the song, stated Justice Zacaroli of the trial. The Justice added that Chokri and O’Donoghue “not only maintained their attack on Mr Sheeran but broadened it by asserting that he was a 'magpie' who habitually misappropriated song ideas from other writers.”

Interestingly, it was Sheeran and his collaborators who launched the trial. The songwriters started court proceedings in 2018, seeking to prove they had not infringed upon copyright laws despite public claims. Chokri and O'Donoghue then followed up with their own claim, countering that Sheeran had intentionally stolen the refrain from their song. The recent battle took place over the course of 11 days in a London courtroom.

Even though the Justice determined that Sheeran had, in any case, not intentionally stolen music from the duo, the defendant’s lawyers claimed Sheeran and his collaborators should pay their own legal costs. Justice Zacaroli denied this, ordering Chokri and O’Donoghue to pay an interim amount of €1,066 million.

The popular singer-songwriter detailed his frustrations with the current “culture” of baseless lawsuits inside the industry. Sheeran spoke out about the case in a video message this April, sharing, “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, and it's really damaging to the songwriting industry.”

It’s not over just yet. Another hearing is to be expected in the near future to clarify the money owed to Sheeran and his team.

Watch Ed Sheeran’s public video on the trial below to hear the singer’s thoughts about the culture of copyright accusations below.