Ed Sheeran Copyright Trial Delayed Until Decision In 'Stairway To Heaven' Case Is Reached

In 2016, Townshend claimed that Sheeran's 2014 hit single "Thinking Out Loud" plagiarized portions of his and Gaye's 1973 classic "Let's Get It On."  

Back in January, Stanton rejected Sheeran's request to dismiss the lawsuit, saying, "Although the two compositions are not identical, an average lay observer could conclude that parts of TOL were appropriated from LGO. Even applying the 'more discerning' analysis for works that have both protectable and unprotectable elements, the overlap of the protectable elements alone prevents a judgment of noninfringement as a matter of law."