Sanicki Lawyers Melbourne

  • Home
  • Services
    • Commercial Lawyers Melbourne
    • Music & Entertainment
    • Film & Television
    • Conveyancing Lawyers
    • Trade Marks & Intellectual Property
    • Defamation Lawyers
    • Copyright & Licensing
    • Debt Collection & Insolvency
    • Family Lawyer Melbourne
    • Wills & Estates
    • Franchising Lawyer Melbourne
    • Litigation & Dispute Resolution
    • New Technology & Start Ups
    • Fashion & Design
    • Trade Promotions
  • Clients
    • Music & Entertainment
    • Commercial
  • About
  • Careers
    • Work With Us
    • Intern With Us
  • Contact us
+61 3 9510 9888
Sheeran Targeted Once Again in Copyright Dispute
January 15, 2018
  |  
Maddalena Rinaldi

Ed Sheeran is once again in hot water following allegations by two Australian songwriters of “blatant[ly] copying” a popular song recorded by Australian country singer Jasmine Rae.

 

Sheeran, who co-wrote The Rest of Our Lives for renowned US country artists Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, is accused in a New York district court of “wilful copyright infringement” of melodies, chords and lyrical themes of When I Found You written by Beau Golden and Thirsty Merc’s Sean Carey.

 

It is unlikely that these similarities are mere coincidences, following allegations that Rae’s boyfriend, a marketing manager for Sony Music responsible for promoting Sheeran’s song in Australia, was aware of the “note-for-note copying” for months prior to release, and may have even been responsible for exposing the song to Sony Music.  Furthermore, Rae’s song was at its peak in Australia during Sheeran’s 2016 Australian tour, suggesting Sheeran would most likely have heard the song.

 

Sheeran and his co-writers have been said to have made over US $5 million for the song from downloads, online streams, TV broadcasts and live performances.  Golden and Carey are hence seeking this US $5 million in damages, excluding profits, running royalties and legal costs, and are also seeking an injunction.

 

Having recently settled a dispute with TLC for US $20 million for plagiarising in his hit single “Photograph” and narrowly avoiding an action for “Thinking Out Loud”, one has to wonder whether this is simply a spout of unintentional mistakes by Sheeran, or a pattern of more dishonest behaviour.

 

By Talia Le Couteur

Back to news
 
  • Melbourne
    Level 2, 240 Chapel Street
    Prahran, VIC 3181
    Phone +61 3 9510 9888
  • Brisbane
    139 Gotha Street
    Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
    Phone +61 7 3333 1844
  • General Enquiries
    hello@sanickilawyers.com.au
    Fax +61 3 9510 9888
Sanicki Lawyers Melbourne

Services

  • Commercial Lawyers Melbourne
  • Wills & Estates
  • Music & Entertainment
  • Franchising Lawyer Melbourne
  • Conveyancing Lawyers
  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution
  • Trade Promotions
  • New Technology & Start Ups
  • Defamation Lawyers
  • Fashion & Design
  • Copyright and Licensing
  • Trade Marks & Intellectual Property
  • Film & Television
  • Debt Collection & Insolvency
  • Family Lawyer Melbourne

Info

  • About Us
  • Clients
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Blog

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin

© Copyright 2020. Website & SEO Melbourne & Digital Marketing Melbourne by ZIB Digital | All Rights Reserved.