Jury selection commences in Ed Sheeran’s plagiarism trial over hit song

JURY selection began Monday in a trial to determine whether British pop star Ed Sheeran plagiarized American music legend Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” in his 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud.”

The plaintiffs are the heirs of Ed Townsend, a musician and producer who co-wrote Gaye’s 1973 soul classic.

A scene from the ‘Thinking Out Loud’ music video

They allege that there are “striking similarities and overt common elements” between Gaye’s sultry classic and Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.”

It’s not the first time Sheeran has been taken to court, as copyright lawsuits in the music industry flourish.

Sheeran testified in a London court in April last year in a case centered around his song “Shape of You.” He is among the potential witnesses to be called in this trial as well, in which opening arguments were due to begin Tuesday after a jury is selected, a lawyer working on the case told AFP Townsend’s family has pointed out that the group Boyz II Men has performed

The British pop star’s hit song is the reason why he won a Grammy in 2016 mash-ups of the two songs, and that Sheeran has blended the songs together on stage as well.

Sheeran’s team contests the allegations, saying “there are dozens if not hundreds of songs that predate and postdate” Gaye’s song, “utilizing the same or similar chord progression.”

“These medleys are irrelevant to any issue in the case and would be misleading [and] confuse the jury.”

Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” shot up America’s Billboard Hot 100 charts when it was released, and won Sheeran a Grammy Award for “Song of the Year” in

2016. The lawsuit, filed in 2016 – and refiled in 2017 after being rejected on procedural grounds – also names Sony.

In Sheeran’s London trial, the singer called the lawsuit emblematic of copyright litigation that goes too far, potentially stifling creativity.

Gaye’s family is not part of the New York lawsuit against Sheeran, though his estate successfully sued the artists Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I. over similarities between the song “Blurred Lines” and Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up.” ang bida sa ating kwentong pangkalikasan. Together, we have what it takes to create a better world and shape a waste-free future for our children and for generations to come,” he ended.

Real-life couple Bianca Umali (left) and Ruru Madrid

‘CIA with BA’ tackles new laws on debt in latest episode

IN the latest episode of CIA with BA, Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano and King of Talk Boy Abunda faced another set of complaints involving debt.

In one case, a woman complained about her partner who allegedly abused her several times and still demanded payment for some of the expensive things he spent with her when they were together.

In the other case, three men sought legal advice as the checks they received as payment from a business process outsourcing (BPO) company for their services bounced.

Responding to Abunda’s clarification for the audience if there are people who get imprisoned due to debt, Senator Alan said: “Bawal kasi sa konstitusyon natin na magpakulong dahil sa utang pero [may] nakukulong dahil sa tumalbog na cheke.”

The sibling senators admitted that issues like these need a closer look and perhaps new sets of laws considering the speedy advancement of technology.

Malay mo, magkaroon din ng digital na cheke,” Senator Alan said. “Kasi ngayon ‘yung mga digital payment [ay] either bayaran ka o hindi. Walang postdated doon.”

For her part, Senator Pia said lawmakers like her and her brother need to sit down and consider all the necessary steps.

Bilang mambabatas, job naming isipin ngayon ‘yan [na] ano naman ‘yung mga bagong batas na kailangan naming gawin,” she said.

“Kung dati, ang paniguradong pambayad ay cheke, ngayon naman kung ayaw mo kaagad ng pag-send ng payment,

From left: King of Talk Boy Abunda with Senators Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano ano ngayon ang transaksyon? — ‘Yan ang mga kailangan namin isipin,” she added.

CIA with BA, which aired its pilot episode on February 5, marks Senator Alan Peter and Senator Pia’s debut outing as on-air legal advisers.

Future shows – airing Sundays at 11:30 p.m. on GMA 7 – will help viewers learn more about the country’s laws and how they affect their daily lives. Watch out for the new episode this coming Sunday, April 30.

Senators Alan and Pia carry on the legacy of their late father and original Compañero of the airwaves Senator Rene Cayetano, who led and co-hosted the popular legal advice program ‘Compañero y Compañera’ on radio and television from 1997 to 2001.