Northern Irish rockstar, Johnny McDaid, has been named in a lawsuit over Ed Sheeran’s 2014 hit song, Photograph.
Johnny co-wrote the song, which is now coming under fire for copyright infringement.
Songwriting duo Martin Harrington and Thomas Leonard are alleging that the song infringes the copyright of their song Amazing, which was released in 2012 and sung by X-Factor winner Matt Cardle.
The two songwriters are seeking damages of $20 million dollars, plus royalties. Yikes!
The court documents, which were filed at the Los Angeles Federal Court in California, and have since appeared online, claim that in the choruses of Amazing and Photograph there are 39 identical notes, and that there are other clear indicators of infringement.
“The similarities go beyond substantial, which is itself sufficient to establish copyright infringement, and are in fact striking. The similarity of words, vocal style, vocal melody, melody and rhythm are clear indicators, among other things, that Photograph copies Amazing,” the document asserts.
The solicitors being used by Harrington and Leonard are the same ones that were used by Marvin Gaye’s family in the case of copyright infringement for Pharrell and Robin Thicke’s song Blurred Lines. The Gaye family won this case.
Here are the two songs. You can judge for yourself…
