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Ed Sheeran sued for allegedly ripping off Marvin Gaye

By Sarah Mulé
Ed Sheeran arrives at the MTV Europe Music Awards on October 25, 2015. Sheeran is facing a suit from the estate of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote "Let's Get It On" with Marvin Gaye, alleging Sheeran illegally sampled from the song. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI
1 of 2 | Ed Sheeran arrives at the MTV Europe Music Awards on October 25, 2015. Sheeran is facing a suit from the estate of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote "Let's Get It On" with Marvin Gaye, alleging Sheeran illegally sampled from the song. File Photo by David Silpa/UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Ed Sheeran is facing another copyright lawsuit, this time from the estate of Ed Townsend who co-wrote Marvin Gaye's timeless 1973 hit "Let's Get It On."

The Townsend family said in the suit that Sheeran repeatedly used elements from "Let's Get It On" in his Grammy-winning hit "Thinking Out Loud."

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"The Defendants copied the 'heart' of 'Let's' and repeated it continuously throughout 'Thinking,'" the Townsend's allege in the suit.. "The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of 'Thinking' are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of 'Let's.'"

Townsend's estate is asking for a jury to decide if damages are owed.

This is the second copyright suit for Sheeran, who is facing $20 million in damages for reportedly illegally sampling a song written for X Factor season 7 winner Matt Cardle to use in his hit "Photograph."

Sheeran has yet to comment on either suit.

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