Songwriters call Ed Sheeran a ‘magpie’ who ‘borrows ideas’ in copyright battle

Ed Sheeran’s $5.4 million copyright battle over hit song Shape of You has continued with two songwriters accusing him of being a “magpie” who “borrows ideas”.

Ed Sheeran has been accused of being a “magpie” in a major High Court battle where it has been claimed he ripped off music from other singers for part of his hit Shape of You.

The star appeared in court today with a large entourage for the battle where songwriters Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue claim the song infringes parts of one of their songs.

They say the chorus of Sheeran’s tune, which goes “oh I oh I oh I”, was nicked from their chorus “oh why oh why oh why”.

They made the claims on social media.

Sheeran and his co-authors for the song issued legal proceedings in May 2018, asking the High Court to declare that they had not infringed Mr Chokri and Mr O’Donoghue’s copyright.

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Sheeran’s hit ‘Shape of You’ is under scrutiny in the trial. Picture: Getty Images.

Two months later, in July 2018, Mr Chokri and Mr O’Donoghue issued their own claim for “copyright infringement, damages and an account of profits in relation to the alleged infringement”.

Now the battle has hit the High Court.

Andrew Sutcliffe QC, representing Mr Chokri and Mr O’Donoghue, told the court: “Mr Sheeran is undeniably very talented.

“He is a genius.

“But he is also a magpie. He borrows ideas and throws them into songs.

“Sometimes he acknowledges this. And sometimes he doesn’t.”

Mr Sheeran appeared upset at the magpie remark and started quickly writing a note which was passed to his large legal team.

Mr Sutcliffe said the hit maker had “won many awards” and was very famous.

He added: “They (Mr Chokri and Mr O‘Donoghue) are not Shaggy, Coldplay or Rihanna.

“If they were, this would have been treated very differently.”

Sheeran reportedly seemed offended by the ‘magpie’ remark. Picture: AFP.

The flame-haired superstar, 30, had his royalties frozen for the best-selling single after musician Sami Chokri claimed it ripped off his work.

He has likely missed out on millions since the 2018 ruling by the Performing Rights Society, which decides on royalty payouts.

The hearing will last for three weeks.

Mr Sheeran is set to give evidence on Monday and Tuesday.

It is a case in which the stakes are high.

In a November 2020 ruling, Judge Francesca Kaye said the parties involved “anticipated that they would incur costs in the region of £3 million ($AUD5.4m) between them on this dispute”.

Mr Sheeran previously settled a copyright infringement claim in 2017 against him in the US, over another of his hit songs called Photograph, the court heard.

Songwriters Thomas Leonard and Martin Harrington sued the singer, claiming his ballad had a similar structure to their song, Amazing.

The case was settled for more than £4 million ($AUD7.2m) according to court documents released yesterday.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and is reproduced here with permission