Ed Sheeran: Other artists are cheering me on in copyright fight

Sheeran said he has heard from other singers since the trial began last week because they share his worries about litigation resulting from their songwriting.

Recording artist Ed Sheeran arrives at New York Federal Court as proceedings continue in his copyright infringement trial (John Minchillo/AP)

Ed Sheeran has said he is getting encouragement during his copyright trial from other performers who also worry that they will be sued as he battles claims that he stole material from Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On to make a new tune a decade ago.

The British singer offered a spirited defence and a lot of singing during a second day in the witness box after he was called by his lawyer to answer questions at a trial at which he is accused of infringing the copyrights of the 1973 soul classic Gaye created with fellow songwriter Ed Townsend.