Ed Sheeran Reveals Personal Song Inspired by Copyright Lawsuit Device Search

During the opening night of his Australian tour, Ed Sheeran shared a deeply personal story with a crowd of 70,000 fans at Accor Stadium in Sydney. The story centered around the emotional impact of the eight-year copyright lawsuit he faced over his hit song “Thinking Out Loud.”

The Lawsuit and Its Aftermath

In 2015, Sheeran was sued for $100 million, accused of copying elements of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Receive It On” in “Thinking Out Loud.” The legal battle concluded in 2023 with a Recent York jury finding in Sheeran’s favor, determining that he did not copy the 1973 classic.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Sheeran recounted to the audience that, as part of the legal process, he was required to hand over his electronic devices for investigation. He jokingly remarked, “All I’ll say is that I’m glad there’s nothing weird on them, you know.” The experience led him to rediscover an old mobile phone he hadn’t used since a 2015 Australian tour.

“I did a tour down here [in Australia] for Multiply in 2015 and I remember at the end of that tour, I switched that phone off and going, ‘I do not want to use a mobile phone again,’” he said. “I moved to email and I’ve used email since then.”

“Old Phone” – A Song Born from Reflection

Powering on the phone years later proved to be a poignant experience. Sheeran described it as “like going through a time machine,” uncovering old conversations with friends who had passed away and family members he hadn’t spoken to in years. This emotional journey inspired “Old Phone,” a track from his 2025 album Play, which he performed for the Sydney crowd.

“I discover whenever anything negative happens in my life, I write a song about it and it somehow makes sense of that lousy thing that’s happened,” Sheeran explained. “And it also works with something good that happens in my life – I write a song about it.”

Australian Appreciation

Sheeran also expressed his gratitude to Australian audiences, noting that the country was one of the first outside the U.K. To embrace his music. He recalled the enthusiastic crowds he’s experienced in Australia since the beginning of his career.

Loop Tour Continues

Sheeran is continuing his Australian tour with performances in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide following his Sydney shows. He performed at Accor Stadium on February 13th, 14th and 15th, 2026, joined by Vance Joy, Mia Wray, and Aaron Rowe.