Ed Sheeran Trial Heads to Jury Deliberations after Closing Arguments

Testimony wrapped up in the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran copyright infringement trial at the end of the court day Wednesday,

U.S. District Court Judge Louis Stanton sent the Manhattan jury into deliberations with a pointed admonition: “Independent creation is a complete defense, no matter how similar that song is.”

Heirs of songwriter Ed Townsend are suing Sheeran, his label Warner Music Group and music publisher Sony Music Publishing for allegedly that the pop singer's smash “Thinking Out Loud” is a ripoff of the classic Marvin Gaye song “Let’s Get It On”, which Townsend co-wrote.

The jury in the infringement case deliberated for about five minutes Wednesday evening before the judge sent jury members home. 

They sent a note to the judge requesting that it break deliberations for the night and the judge granted that request around 5:10 p.m.

The jury will continue deliberations Thursday at 10 a.m. Judge Louis Stanton told jury members that was fine, but he would not be back to court until 10:30 a.m.

The trial will move on to the second phase to determine damages if the jury decides Sheeran is liable for copyright infringement.

Sheeran previously announced his decision to quit music for good if he loses the lawsuit.

“I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it,” he noted.