Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber are accused of plagiarism

Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber have been accused of borrowing the catchy melody that underpins their latest single from singer Cheryl.

The pop superstars are expected to score high chart entries across the globe with new collaboration I Don't Care, their third joint release having previously worked together on Bieber's Love Yourself and Major Lazer's Cold Water. 

But fans expressed their dismay after noting a distinct similarity between their new track, which was released on Friday morning, and Cheryl’s 2014 release of the same name.

The new track, which is not expected to feature on any forthcoming albums by the artists, was written by Sheeran and Bieber in collaboration with songwriters Fred Gibson, Jason Boyd, Max Martin and Shellback. 

Cheryl's release, taken from her fourth studio album Only Human, was penned by the singer with help from Joakim Åhlund, Bonnie McKee and John Newman. 

Claims of plagiarism come just four months after a US judge ruled a jury will decide whether or not Sheeran is guilty of ripping off Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On for his smash hit Thinking Out Loud. 

Let's Get It On was released in 1973 while Sheeran's Grammy-winning Thinking Out Loud was included on the British artist's X album in 2014.

The lawsuit was brought by the estate and heirs of late producer Ed Townsend, who co-wrote Let's Get It On with Gaye. 

As well as the 'substantial similarities' between the two songs, Judge Stanton ruled it was disputed whether the harmonic rhythm of Let's Get It On was deserving of copyright protection or whether it was too common.

The defense argued Thinking Out Loud was characterised by 'sombre, melancholic tones, addressing long-lasting romantic love' while Let's Get It On was a 'sexual anthem'.

Despite this, the judge said listeners could view them as having the same 'aesthetic appeal'.

Sheeran has also been accused of plagiarism over his songs Photograph and Shape Of You.

Judge Stanton is presiding over two lawsuits alleging Sheeran copied Let's Get It On. In the other case, Structured Asset Sales (SAS), which owns one-third of Townsend's estate, is suing for 100 US dollars (£79 million).

SAS is owned by David Pullman, the creator of the so-called Bowie Bonds, which saw David Bowie sell off bonds for 55 million dollars (£42 million) backed by royalties from his catalogue.