THE FAMILY OF a co-writer of Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On is suing Ed Sheeran, claiming the British singer-songwriter’s hit, Thinking Out Loud, sounds too much like the soul classic.

The lawsuit filed by the family of Ed Townsend claims Sheeran copied the “heart” of Let’s Get It On and repeated it continuously throughout Thinking Out Loud.

It says Sheeran continued to perform the song even after he was notified of the copyright infringement claim last year.

The family is demanding a jury trial and compensation for damages.

Sheeran’s song spent over a year inside the UK top 40 chart and is his most successful song in North America, peaking at number 2 in the US chart and winning two Grammy Awards.

The lawsuit also names Thinking Out Loud co-writer Amy Wadge, producer Jake Gosling and a number of record companies.

Wadge has responded to the lawsuit with a tweet.

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This latest lawsuit is the second Sheeran is facing in a number of months.

In June, two songwriters lodged a claim that a knowing infringement took place when Sheeran copied their song Amazing for his release Photograph.

Amazing was released on the debut album of X Factor winner Matt Cardle.

Sheeran’s representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment over this latest lawsuit.

- With reporting by Rónán Duffy

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