US Musicians Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard are suing Ed Sheeran. According to them, Ed’s “Photograph” is too similar to the song “Amazing” that the duo wrote for Matt Cardle back in 2009.
The chorus of “Photograph” is claimed to have no less than 39 identical notes with the song released by Matt Cardle in 2012. Harrington and Leonard say that the similarities are “instantly recognisable”.
The lawsuit, filed yesterday at LA’s federal court, states the following:
Given the striking similarity between the chorus of Amazing and Photograph, (the) defendants knew when writing, publishing, recording, releasing, and distributing Photograph that they were infringing on a pre-existing musical composition.
The copying of Amazing by Photograph is breathtaking in its deliberateness, magnitude, and hubris.
Ed is not the only one being sued in this case. Co-writer Johnny McDaid and various divisions of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Warner Music Group and Atlantic Records might be facing consequences as well.
Harrington and Leonard have hired Richard Busch, the same lawyer that famously won a case against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams last year, forcing the duo to pay $7.4 million to the family of Marvin Gaye.
The aim of the prosecutors is trial and damages of more than $20 million, as well as all future royalties of “Photograph”.
You can listen to both songs below. Let us know what you think over at @CelebMix on twitter!