Edward Christopher Sheeran MBE is a singer-songwriter from England. He began composing songs at the age of eleven, having been born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and reared in Framlingham, Suffolk. Sheeran self-released his extended play, No. 5 Collaborations Project, in early 2011.

Ed Sheeran, a British singer-songwriter, appeared in London’s High Court on Friday as a copyright trial began over charges that his successful song “Shape of You” copied melodic lines from another song. “Shape of You,” published in 2017, was a major smash for Sheeran, 31, and is still the most played song on Spotify, at over 3 billion plays.

“Shape of You” made number one on the singles charts in 34 countries, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States (where it later became the greatest song of 2017), as well as the songs lists in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.

Sheeran and the other credited composers of the song sued Chokri and McDaid in 2018, leading the duo to file their own claim for”copyright infringements, damages and an account of the profit in relation to the alleged infringement.”

However, two additional composers, Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue, claim that Sheeran’s song “Oh Why” is musically identical to one they created.

Sheeran, who attended the session dressed in a black suit and tie, rejects the claim.

The legal fight is scheduled to take three weeks, with judge Antony Zacaroli hearing both songs in court on Friday.

The composers’ lawyer, Andrew Sutcliffe, told the judge that “the likeness between the two hooks is startling,” and the songs “sound practically identical.”

“This of course does not by itself prove that copying has taken place but it’s a vital starting point,” Ed continued.

Sutcliffe described Sheeran as a “magpie” who “borrows ideas” and occasionally fails to acknowledge them. Sheeran’s attorneys told the High Court that he and his co-writers have no recollection of hearing “Oh Why” at the time, and that he felt no regret for the songs he wrote.