Ed Sheeran's Copyright Victory: The Paradox of Putting Creativity on Trial

Ed Sheeran's recent copyright court case victory highlights the paradox of putting creativity on trial. The recent upswing in claims of theft and trials points to an exhaustion of inspiration in modern pop, but also to a latter-day obsession with authenticity. The recent court cases have tried to place clear definitions and parameters on mysterious, unquantifiable issues such as creativity and inspiration. The fear of being dragged through the courts should lead to greater originality on the part of songwriters, but instead, an extreme form of protective hedge-betting is afoot, resulting in an artless, unsatisfying cul-de-sac where everyone lives happily and creativity goes to die.