Ed Sheeran Is Being Sued For $20 Million Over His Biggest Hit

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is being sued for $20 million, alleging that the singer has copied the monster hit "Photograph" from 2009 work "Amazing," according to Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/ed-sheeran-sued-20m-allegedly-899827?platform=hootsuite According to the report, Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard, along with their publishing company HaloSongs, say Sheeran's "Photograph" derives from their 2009 work, "Amazing," which was recorded and released as a single by Matt Cardle, the winner of the 2010 season of the television competition show The X Factor. The interesting factor is that the plaintiffs are represented by attorney Richard Busch, whose last big copyright lawsuit was on behalf of the Marvin Gaye family over the hit, "Blurred Lines." That one resulted in a "head-turning" $5.3 million judgment. "My clients are professional songwriters," the report says quoting Busch. "Their work is their life, and I am honored that they have trusted me with this very important case." The lawsuit reportedly alleges that "Photograph," is too similar to both the composition written by Harrington and Leonard as well as the version recorded by Cardle. "The songs' similarities reach the very essence of the work," states the complaint. "The similarities go beyond substantial, which is itself sufficient to establish copyright infringement, and are in fact striking. The similarity of words, vocal style, vocal melody, melody, and rhythm are clear indicators, among other things, that 'Photograph' copies 'Amazing.'"