Ed Sheeran's copyright battles are much more bizarre than anyone can imagine



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Business bankers, Bowie bonds, paternity challenges and the alleged concealment of adoption – when there is a lawsuit on "Thinking Out Loud", supposed to be a rip off from Marvin Gaye's classic "Let's Get It On" fireworks.

Ed Sheeran is one of the best known singer-songwriters working in the pop music industry today. He has also been repeatedly prosecuted for copyright infringement. He had to give up the partial ownership of "Photography" last year to settle a lawsuit. He is also facing ongoing litigation over a song he's written for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. But in terms of sheer strangeness, it's nothing compared to what's happening on Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud," supposed to be a scam of Marvin Gaye's classic "Let's Get On On" [19659003"Let'sGetItOn"publishedin1973wasco-authoredbyEdTownsendJrwhose"heirs"arenowsuingcopyrightclaimsagainstSheeranandthemusiccompaniesassociatedAndyesthereisareasonforusingquotationmarksasthislegalbattlerecentlyintroducedpaternityandtheguywhoinvented"Bowie'sobligations"amongotherthings

Let's start on this last subject from a new trial

In May, an entity called Structured Asset Sales wrote a letter to the New York judge asking for permission to become an additional co-complainant in the case "Thinking Out Loud".

Represented by attorney Hillel Parness, who was at the time head of litigation at Warner Music, Structured Asset Sales was founded by businessman David Pullman, who caused a sensation in the late 1990s by securitizing future royalties. and then sell these asset backed securities to other investors. David Bowie was just one of the many musicians who decided to sell their future income in exchange for money in advance. Other securitized works included songs by James Brown and The Isley Brothers.

Structured Asset Sales apparently has an agreement with one of Ed Townsend Jr.'s children, Clef Michael Townsend, and claims to own a piece of "Let's Get It On". "As co-owner of the songwriter's or beneficial owner of the product of the song, the company Pullman claims a stake in the dispute."

Nevertheless, US District Judge Richard Sullivan denied the claim Intervention was "clearly untimely." In his decision, Sullivan pointed out that the "Thinking Out Loud" case was a "widely publicized action," with great media attention, yet Structured Asset Sales waited about two years before the discovery was closed to try to get involved.

The Pullman company is now appealing to the 2nd circuit, but in the meantime, Structured Asset Sales has filed a new complaint today. which essentially repeats the assertion that "Thinking Out Loud" is a violation of the copyright of "Let's Get On".

The alleged offense will of course be tested on judgm in the first case (or technically the second case, because Townsend's heirs had to sue twice after initially failing to serve documents on the defendants). important at this stage are the musicologists weighing on the similarities between the respective songs as well as the depositions of those involved in the creation of the music. Sheeran added "Let's Go" with "Thinking Out Loud" in the performances, a nod to the correspondence between Sheeran and his manager about the similarities and arguments of the defendants about unprotected elements as common song structures and percussive rhythms – Judge Sullivan will have even more to think of at this time.

One of Townsend's children and co-complainant in this lawsuit is Kathy Griffin (not the comedian). Sheeran's camp calls into question her status because they say she "was adopted by others at birth and under California's law of intestacy, she does not want to see her. has no right to succeed Mr. Townsend's interest in the song. "

On Wednesday, Pryor Cashman's lawyer, Donald Zakarin, representing the defendants and outlining the next summary judgment documents, goes one step further in explaining the challenge

"Kathryn's lack of standing because of his adoption was confirmed during his testimony on April 24, 2017 "writes Zakarin. On the basis of hearsay, Kathryn testified as follows: (a) while she believes Townsend is her biological father, no DNA or paternity test was carried out ( and the plaintiffs failed and refused to produce Kathryn's birth certificate.) (C) The doctor who gave birth to Kathryn would have taken care of Kathryn during the first few months of her life (which seems unlikely at best) until she was not pregnant. Shirley and Earnest Griffin adopt Kathryn and (d) Kathryn was around 26 years old when she learned that she had been adopted and that Townsend was her biological father. "

L & # 39; Plaintiffs' lawyer argues that Griffin was determined to become a legitimate heir 10 years ago by a probate court and has seen an interest in the Townsend music catalog. The plaintiffs add that Sony / ATV – one of the co-defendants – paid Griffin royalties on "Let's Get On" during this time without any objection.

Zakarin responds that the defendants have reviewed the California probate records to investigate and have come "In particular, the plaintiff Helen McDonald, who was initially the" personal representative "of the Townsend estate in the Homicide proceedings, concealed Kathryn's adoption of the court, "he wrote." In fact, she specifically represented to the court that Kathryn had not been passed. "[19659003] Zakarin adds that Jobete Music – not Sony – administers the rights to "Let's Get On" and paid royalties based on the information provided by McDonald and Griffin and represented as accurate.

In sum, dispute over whether the most iconic songs of Marvin Gaye has been violated and has become something extraordinary.A investment banker claiming effective ownership presents his own claims while the supposed heir "Let's Get On" age of one of the composer's biological children is questioned – all from a celebration of love.

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