Johnny and Courtney Cox
SNOW Patrol’s Johnny McDaid has been named in a £13 million lawsuit brought against Ed Sheeran over his song Photograph.
Sheeran, who co-wrote the 2014 hit with the Derry musician McDaid, is being sued for allegedly copying a song released by X Factor winner Matt Cardle.
Songwriters Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard have alleged the song infringes the copyright of their 2012 single Amazing with the lawsuit claiming the choruses of both songs share 39 identical notes.
Sheeran and McDaid – now rumoured to be back with actress Courtney Cox after they split up – will have to answer the charges along with other co-defendants including Sony/ATV Songs, Warner Music and Polar Patrol Music Publishing.
The Brit Award-nominated single is featured on the soundtrack for new movie Me Before You.
Lawyer Richard Busch, who recently represented Marvin Gaye’s family in a successful copyright case over the Robin Thicke hit Blurred Lines, is acting on behalf of Harrington and Leonard.
The lawsuit states the songs’ similarities “reach the very essence of the work”.
The plaintiffs claim the team behind Photograph were aware of Cardle’s single.
It is claimed the parallels are “instantly recognisable to the ordinary observer”, with the songwriters saying the alleged copying makes up “nearly one half” of Sheeran’s single.
Harrington and Leonard claim that while Sheeran and his co-defendants have received “career-defining accolades, awards, and a fortune” for Photograph, they have received nothing.
The songwriters have asked to be awarded the profits on the song, which are believed to be more than £13 million.
Cardle, who won the ITV talent show in 2010, is not involved in the lawsuit.
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