Ed Sheeran performs Nina Simone, Van Morrison songs from witness stand at copyright trial

Ed Sheeran said Monday he's getting encouragement during his copyright trial from other performers who also worry that they'll be sued as he battles claims that he stole material from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to make a new tune a decade ago.

The British singer offered a spirited defense and a lot of singing during a second day on the witness stand after he was called by his lawyer to answer questions at a trial at which he is accused of infringing the copyrights of the 1973 soul classic Gaye created with fellow songwriter Ed Townsend. 

From the witness stand, Sheeran used his guitar to perform a "mashup" of acoustic renditions of songs by other artists, including Nina Simone, Bill Withers, Blackstreet and Van Morrison, as well as some of his own. The demonstration intended to show how Sheeran can easily transition between his music and theirs.