Singer Ed Sheeran denies borrowing ideas in 'Shape Of You' copyright trial

Ed Sheeran denies he 'borrows' ideas from unknown songwriters without acknowledgement, during a High Court trial over the copyright of his hit song 'Shape Of You'. Photo: AP

British singer Ed Sheeran denied that he simply altered other artistes' music and words to pass their work off as his own as he gave evidence on Monday in a copyright trial over his 2017 chart-topping hit Shape Of You.

The award-winning singer is in a legal battle with grime artiste Sami Chokri, who performs as Sami Switch, and music producer Ross O'Donoghue, who argue Shape Of You infringes "particular lines and phrases" from their 2015 song Oh Why.