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Copyright Law

Lawyer who won $5.3M 'Blurred Lines' verdict files $20M suit over Ed Sheeran's 'Photograph'

A lawyer who represented singer Marvin Gaye’s family in last year’s monster $5.3 million “Blurred Lines” copyright verdict is back in court in another high-profile case over a hit song. 

This time attorney Richard Busch is seeking $20 million for two veteran California songwriters, contending that Ed Sheeran’s smash song Photograph involved “verbatim, note-for-note copying,” the Hollywood Reporter explains. 

Plaintiffs Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard and their publishing company, HaloSongs, say Photograph unacceptably borrows from their 2009 effort, Amazing, which was later recorded by Matt Cardle as a single. 

“The songs’ similarities reach the very essence of the work,” states the complaint, which was filed Wednesday in federal court in Santa Ana. “ 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.” 

Busch, who was also on the winning side defending Madonna’s sampling in Vogue, was profiled last year in the Tennessean. 

The Kansas City Star and the Tennessean also have stories about the new copyright lawsuit. 

None of the articles includes any comment from Sheeran. 

Related coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Some lawyers see blurred lines in ‘Blurred Lines’ copyright verdict”

Associated Press: “Judge trims ‘Blurred Lines’ song dispute verdict to $5.3M”

See also:

ABAJournal.com: “6th Circuit ‘Bow Wow Wow’ Opinion Cited by Lawyer Eyeing Suit Against Britney Spears”