Uh-Oh, Ed Sheeran Has Been Accused Of Plagiarising Two Australian Songwriters

Ed Sheeran and country stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are set to face legal action over allegations they plagiarised a track written by two Australian songwriters.

Ex-Thirsty Merc member Sean Carey and songwriter Beau Golden filed a complaint in a New York Federal Court on Wednesday, claiming that the 2017 McGraw/Hill song ‘The Rest Of Our Life’ (which was co-written by Sheeran) is a “note-for-note” copy of a track called ‘When I Found You’, which they released in 2015 with Australian singer Jasmine Rae.

“The copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying of original elements of the Song, and is obvious to the ordinary observer,” the complaint states.

They also allege that Sony Music (who released ‘The Rest Of Our Life’) were fully aware that the two songs were similar, owing to the fact that Rae’s boyfriend, Tim Holland, was a Marketing Manager at the company at the time.

“Mr. Holland admitted to knowing about the Infringing Song months in advance of its release because he was tasked with promoting and marketing the Infringing Song and Infringing Sound Recording before its release,” states the complaint.

“When questioned by Plaintiffs as to his silence about the similarities between ‘When I Found You’ and the Infringing Song/Infringing Sound Recording, Mr. Holland stated he did not want to lose his job with Sony Music.”

They go on to claim that Holland had previously “indicated” he was aware of the similarities between the two tracks, that he was “instrumental in bringing Plaintiffs” work to the attention of McGraw, Hill, and Sheeran, and “likely provided access to it.”

Carey and Golden are seeking $5 million in damages, profits, and a running royalty. They’re being backed by star lawyer Richard Busch — you might remember him as the guy who successfully represented Marvin Gaye’s family in the ‘Blurred Lines’ lawsuit a few years ago.

Listen to the two tracks below. And FWIW: they do sound scarily similar.