Ed Sheeran is sued for £13.8 million for ‘note-by-note copy’ of X Factor winner Matt Cardle’s hit
He's accused of ripping off Matt's 2011 single Amazing
ED Sheeran is being sued for a staggering £13.8million amidst claims he ripped off a Matt Cardle track.
And unfortunately for Ed - Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard, the writers of Matt's 2011 track Amazing - are bringing out the big guns.
They've hired Richard Busch the lawyer who represented Marvin Gaye's family in a lawsuit against Pharrell and Robin Thicke.
They were accused of ripping off one of the soul legend's tracks for Blurred Lines, and eventually had to pay $7million (£4.8 million) in damages last March.
The Ed track at the heart of the drama is his 2014 single Photograph, from album Multiply.
It's enjoyed a second lease of life after being used as the soundtrack for new romantic drama Me Before You.
Court documents reveal that Harrington, Leonard and Halo Songs are bringing an action against Ed and Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid, who co-wrote Photograph.
They're accused of "participating in a scheme aiding, inducing, and contributing to copyright infringement in the U.S."
"[Photograph and other album tracks] copied, and exploited, without authorization or credit, the work of other active, professional songwriters, on a breathtaking scale, unabashedly taking credit for the work of these songwriters by claiming it to be their own."
The documents reveal that the plaintiffs believe that 39 notes in the chorus share "pitch, rhythmic duration, and placement in the measure.
"[There is also] similarity of words, vocal style, vocal melody, melody, and rhythm are clear indicators, among other things, that Photograph copies Amazing."
It's no surprise that people didn't think Photograph sounded familiar when it was released two years ago - when Matt released Amazing it limped in at No. 84 in the charts.
On YouTube, Ed's track has had over 200 million views, while Matt's a smaller - but respectable 1.1 million.
Listen to the two tracks at the heart of the lawsuit
Ed Sheeran - Photograph .
Matt Cardle - Amazing