Ed Sheeran’s 2017 hit Shape Of You does not infringe another artist’s copyright, a High Court judge has ruled.
In a lawsuit last month, the singer and his Shape Of You co-writers, Snow Patrol’s John McDaid and producer Steven McCutcheon, have faced allegations that they used the song Oh Why by Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue from the year stole in 2015.
In a Wednesday ruling, Judge Zacaroli concluded that Sheeran “neither intentionally nor unknowingly” copied a line from Oh Why when writing Shape Of You.
Ed Sheeran in front of the Rolls Building at the High Court in central London (Kirsty O’Connor/PA)
The singer-songwriter and his co-writers originally filed a court case in May 2018, asking the Supreme Court to declare that they did not infringe Chokri and O’Donoghue’s copyright.
Two months later, Chokri — a grime artist who performs under the name Sami Switch — and O’Donoghue introduced their own lawsuit seeking “copyright infringement, damages and profit settlement related to the alleged infringement.”
The couple claimed that an “Oh I” hook on “Shape Of You” was “strikingly similar” to an “Oh Why” chorus on their own track.
During the 11-day trial at the Rolls Building in London, Sheeran denied he “borrows” ideas from unknown songwriters without credit, insisting he’s “always tried to be absolutely fair” when it comes to reaching out to people recognize those who have contributed to his albums.
Sami Chokri claimed Ed Sheeran’s hit ‘Shape Of You’ copied part of his song ‘Oh Why’ (Kirst O’Connor/PA)
The singer told the court he was trying to “clear my name” and denied using a lawsuit to “intimidate” Chokri and O’Donoghue into abandoning the copyright battle.
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Lawyers for Oh Why’s co-writers labeled Sheeran a “magpie,” claiming he “usually copies” other artists and that it’s “highly likely” that he’s heard Oh Why before.
Chokri told the trial he felt “robbed” by the music star and was “shocked” when he first heard Shape Of You on the radio.
However, attorneys for Sheeran, McDaid and McCutcheon said the allegations against them were “impossible to hold,” with evidence suggesting Shape Of You was an “independent creation.”
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/ed-sheeran-wins-high-court-copyright-battle-over-shape-of-you-hit-41525829.html Ed Sheeran wins High Court copyright battle over hit ‘Shape Of You’