Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” Copyright Case Finally Over, Co-Writer Amy Wadge Breathes a Sigh of Relief
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After ten years of legal battles, the long-running Thinking Out Loud copyright case involving Ed Sheeran and co-writer Amy Wadge has finally reached its end. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal lodged by Structured Asset Sales (SAS), effectively closing a decade-long dispute that threatened to reshape how copyright law is applied to popular music.
The dispute centered on claims that Thinking Out Loud—one of Ed Sheeran’s most celebrated tracks—copied elements from Marvin Gaye’s iconic 1973 song Let’s Get It On. SAS, a company with a financial stake in Gaye co-writer Ed Townsend’s share of the copyright, had sought damages amounting to $100 million.
A Decade of Anxiety Ends for Amy Wadge
For Welsh songwriter Amy Wadge, who co-wrote Thinking Out Loud with Sheeran in 2014, the ruling was not just a legal victory—it was deeply personal.
“It’s a huge relief,” Wadge said in an emotional interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “This case has haunted my life for ten years. It felt like the wolves were surrounding us.”
Wadge described the immense stress the case brought upon her, recalling how Thinking Out Loud was her first major hit after years of struggle. “That song changed my life,” she said. “It gave me a career I never thought I’d have. But then, it felt like that dream was being taken away.”
Landmark Case for the Music Industry
The legal dispute highlighted a broader issue that has troubled the music industry: where does inspiration end and infringement begin? While both songs share a similar chord progression, Sheeran’s legal team successfully argued that the sequence was a common building block of pop music, used in numerous compositions over the decades.
In a 2023 New York trial, a jury ruled in Sheeran’s favor, stating that the melodies and lyrics were fundamentally different. The decision was praised by musicians and songwriters across the industry, who feared that a ruling against Sheeran could have opened the floodgates to similar lawsuits.
Judge Michael Park of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals noted that “no reasonable jury could find that the two songs, taken as a whole, are substantially similar,” especially given their different melodies and lyrical content.
Ed Sheeran’s Stand Against “Piggy Bank” Mentality
Following the 2023 verdict, Sheeran made headlines with a powerful statement: “I am not and will never allow myself to be a piggy bank for anyone to shake.” The artist’s refusal to settle out of court sent a strong message to those pursuing opportunistic copyright claims.
After the trial, Sheeran and Wadge even got matching tattoos with the phrase “Independently Created”—a nod to the court’s conclusion that the song was not plagiarized.
Creative Freedom Preserved
Wadge also spoke about the larger implications of the case. “If SAS had won, it would’ve set a dangerous precedent,” she warned. “It wasn’t just about me or Ed—it was about the creative freedom of every songwriter out there.”
She emphasized how the verdict ensures that artists can continue to write and compose without fear of being sued for using basic musical elements.
Looking Ahead
While Sheeran is currently on tour in Europe, Wadge is optimistic they’ll soon reconnect and reflect on the end of this long chapter. “I’m quite sure at some point we’ll be able to sit down and say, ‘Thank goodness.’”
As for whether she’d go through it all again if needed, Wadge quipped, “Maybe—though my husband might not be thrilled about another tattoo!”
The final ruling not only lifts a heavy burden off the shoulders of Sheeran and Wadge but also sends a clear signal to the music world: creativity cannot be shackled by overreaching copyright claims.
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