British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is being sued for $20 million for allegedly using a song covered by an “X Factor” winner as the basis for his international chart-topper “Photograph,” according to court documents obtained Wednesday.
In the complaint for copyright infringement, composers Martin Harrington and Tom Leonard contend that “Photograph” was derived from their 2009 song, “Amazing,” which was recorded and released as a single by Matt Cardle, winner of the 2010 season of television’s “The X Factor.”
Cardle is not a party to the lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court.
A request for comment left with the United Kingdom-based Sheeran’s management company was not immediately answered.
“Photograph” topped pop charts throughout the world and sold more than 3.5 million copies, according to the lawsuit.
Harrington and Leonard allege that “Amazing” and “Photograph” are nearly identical in pitch, tempo and structure, according to the lawsuit.
— City News Service