Mark Hill quoted in the Daily Mail discussing Ed Sheeran’s copyright court case win
Ed Sheeran has called for an end to "baseless" copyright claims damaging the songwriting industry after the High Court cleared him of plagiarising a song for his bestselling track Shape of You.
The Daily Mail publishes Partner Mark Hill's comments: 'The judge has finally ruled on Ed Sheeran's 'traumatising' trial finding that the singer-songwriter had not plagiarised the 2015 song Oh Why by Sami Chokri.
'The judge ruled that Sheeran had 'neither deliberately nor subconsciously copied' Chokri's song and that although there were similarities between the one-bar phrase in Shape of You and Oh Why, there were clearly differences between the relevant parts of the songs. As Sheeran has said today, 'there's only so many notes and very few chords used in pop music.' This may be true, but one thing is for sure: this will not be the last claim of plagiarism we see from the music industry.
Mark continues to say: 'In terms of the legalities of these cases, they are always highly complex. Conclusions are never straightforward because the facts and decisions differ so greatly from case to case.
'Part of the game today for the music industry is knowing how to deal with claims, perhaps by looking for an out of court settlement rather than a provable case for Court.'
Mark's comments were first published in The Daily Mail online. His comments are also included in a later piece also published by The Daily Mail.
Our thinking
IBA Annual Conference
The IBA heads to Miami for its 2022 Annual Conference bringing together thousands hundreds of lawyers from around the world.
Martin Wright
Joint Venture Opportunities
Join our panel where we will discuss various topics including Joint Venture structuring and Partner procurement.
Louise Ward
What can UK investors interested in Life Sciences learn from their more experienced, including US, counterparts?
The recent tie-up between Canary Wharf and Kadans demonstrates the enthusiasm to access the lucrative UK life sciences market.
Helen Coward
Helen Coward writes for Tax Journal on the main purpose test for SDLT group relief
Mainly ignored? The main purpose test for SDLT group relief
Patricia Nathan-Amissah
The Ayes have it - Collateral Warranties can be a ‘Construction Contract’
The Court of Appeal handed down its judgment in the case of Abbey Healthcare (Mill Hill) Limited v Simply Construct (UK) LLP
Rebecca Davies
Islamic Finance News reports on the appointment of Rebecca Davies to Legal Director in our Middle East team
Islamic Finance News reports on the appointment of Rebecca Davies to Legal Director in our Middle East team
Jonathan Morley
Charles Russell Speechlys advising Battery Ventures on the sale of SPT Labtech for £650 million.
Battery Ventures has raised over $9 billion to invest in software and services, enterprise infrastructure, and much more around the world.
Tim Maxwell
Charles Russell Speechlys partners with London Art Week
Charles Russell Speechlys is proud to be partnering with London Art Week
Sarah Farrelly
Windrush Day 2022 – supporting access to justice
Charles Russell Speechlys is proud to continue supporting survivors of the Windrush scandal in their fight for justice.
Peter Smith
Building the Case for Family Business Arbitration in the GCC Region
The GCC has one of the highest concentrations of family businesses anywhere in the world.
Laura Bushaway
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022: Landlords and developers beware serious sanctions for non-compliance
The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 received Royal Assent on 8 February 2022 and will come into force on 30 June 2022.
Emma Preece
EG quotes Emma Preece on the Picturehouse and BNY Mellon rent arrears cases
“The case is being closely watched by landlords and tenants alike as the impact of the pandemic lives on in the commercial property sector”
David Coates
Charles Russell Speechlys has advised long-standing client Stonegate on a series A investment into Peckwater Brands
Stonegate is one of the largest pub companies in the UK with a rich portfolio that covers over 4,500 sites.
Sarah Farrelly
Pro bono support for major office premises move for charity in Stoke-on-Trent
Emmaus entities provide safe homes, community support and meaningful work to formerly homeless people across the UK.
Ghassan El Daye
The Business Breakfast interviews Ghassan El Daye on the legal procedures surrounding international extradition
The Business Breakfast interviews Ghassan El Daye on the legal procedures surrounding international extradition
Rachel Warren
Financier Worldwide quotes Rachel Warren on the UK’s Economic Crime Act
Evaluating the UK’s Economic Crime Act
Pierre Bydzovsky
Update on FIFA-related proceedings in Switzerland
An update on the TV rights appeal trial for the World Cups and the on-going trial against former FIFA president and former UEFA president.
Felicity Chapman
Julia Cox and Felicity Chapman write for International Adviser on the rise of pre-nups in the UK
Julia Cox and Felicity Chapman write for International Adviser on the rise of pre-nups
Samuel Lear
Property Patter: Reasonable Endeavours
What does it mean to use ‘best’, ‘all’ or ‘reasonable’ endeavours?
Glenn Bull
The balance between Fairness and Certainty in UAE Construction Contracts
Articles 106 and 390(20) arguably make the UAE more focused on fairness than some of its counterparts in the GCC.