California-based songwriters Martin Harrington and Tom Leonard have sued Ed Sheeran for $20 million plus royalties. The pair claim that Sheeran’s hit song “Photograph” is too much like their song “Amazing,” which they wrote for past X Factor winner Matt Cardle.
They filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles this week and are wanting the case to go to a jury trial. “Photograph” was a major success for Sheeran and the song’s official music video has been viewed over 200 million times via YouTube.
According to the angry songwriters, the chorus of “Photograph” and their song “Amazing” share 39 identical notes, similar overall structures, melodic rhythms, and harmonies. Listen to Matt Cardle’s “Amazing” below to compare.
Do you think Ed really ripped them off? You be the judge!