Woman Collapses Outside Courtroom in Copyright Case Against Ed Sheeran

The ongoing copyright infringement trial involving Ed Sheeran took an unexpected turn when Kathryn Griffin Townsend, the woman accusing the British singer of plagiarizing Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get it On with his hit song Thinking Out Loud, collapsed inside the courtroom.

The trial resumed on the second day in a New York Federal courtroom, with music professor Dr. Alexander Stewart taking the stand to analyze the two songs.

However, proceedings were interrupted when Kathryn fell ill and required assistance to leave the courtroom.

Trial Resumes with Expert Testimony

Assistance and a medical response were immediately provided as Kathryn was escorted out of the courtroom by her family and legal team.

Unfortunately, she collapsed outside the doors and remained on the ground until a medic was called.

The presiding judge, Louis L. Stanton, later informed those present that Kathryn had been taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

As of now, there has been no comment from Kathryn’s attorney, Ben Crump, regarding the incident.

The lawsuit against Ed Sheeran, 32, and Sony, among others, was initiated in 2017 by the heirs of the late songwriter Ed Townsend, who penned the soulful hit Let’s Get it On, famously performed by Marvin Gaye.

Kathryn, Townsend’s daughter and sole living direct heir, is leading the civil trial.

Stewart’s Assessment and Pending Testimony

During the trial, Stewart played a computer-generated version of Let’s Get It On to compare the deposit copy of the song with Sheeran’s studio version of Thinking Out Loud.

However, a dispute arose over Stewart’s transcription of Thinking Out Loud, with Sheeran’s legal team arguing that the sheet music used for comparison had been altered.

Stewart also claimed that the “musical value” of both Let’s Get It On and Thinking Out Loud was 70%.

The cross-examination of Stewart will continue on Thursday, and it is anticipated that Sheeran will testify later in the week.

In his defense on Tuesday, Sheeran emphasized that many pop songs share similar chord progressions, and he dismissed the significance of his 2014 concert mash-up of Thinking Out Loud and Let’s Get it On, refuting Crump’s characterization of it as a “smoking gun.”

The trial will resume as scheduled, with further examination of expert witnesses and testimonies from both parties involved.

The incident involving Kathryn’s collapse highlights the intensity of the courtroom proceedings and the emotional toll it can have on those involved in high-profile legal battles.