The five-year “Blurred Lines” copyright infringement lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams is finally over, CNN reports.
U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt in California has ordered Thicke and Williams’ More Water From Nazareth Publishing to fork over $5 million to Marvin Gaye’s family.
In 2015, they were ordered to pay more than $7 million, but after filing an appeal it was reduced to $5.3 million.
Both parties are required to pay Gaye’s estate for damages totaling $2.9 million. Thicke will have to pay more than $1.7 million while Williams and his publishing company are responsible for $357,631.
Pharrell, who produced the track, was accused of using Gaye’s 1977 hit “Got to Give It Up” as the vibe for Thicke’s 2013 hit song “Blurred Lines.” The song hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts and has been certified diamond by the RIAA.
Additionally, the judge awarded Gaye’s family interest on the damages as well as 50 percent of royalties generated from “Blurred Lines” moving forward.
[This article has been updated. The original version was published on March 22, 2018 and can be found below.]
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has chosen to uphold the original verdict of the “Blurred Lines” copyright infringement case, ruling Robin Thicke and Pharrell are guilty of plagiarizing Marvin Gaye’s 1977 “Got To Give It Up.” The two have been embroiled in a legal battle with Gaye’s estate since August 2013.
Thicke and Pharrell were originally found guilty of copyright infringement in 2015. Pharrell spot out against the verdict, saying it “handicaps any creator out there who is making something that might be inspired by something else” in a 2015 interview with the Financial Times.
The Gaye family is to be awarded $5.3 million in damages and receive 50 percent of royalties from the record. The Court of Appeals ruling has exonerated T.I., who is featured on the “Blurred Lines” and credited as a songwriter, declaring he’s not responsible for any of the damages.
The decision is noteworthy as it changes the scope of what is considered copyright. Thicke and Pharrell were sued on the basis of copying the “style and feel” of Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up” rather than explicitly replicating the notes or melody.
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HA! Thicke and Pharrell gotta run that fetti. Glad T.I. didn’t get caught up in that shit.
“Glad T.I. didn’t get caught up in that shit.” Why?? Who the fuck is T.I. to you? And what has he done for you lately???
Unless you’re taking my fast food order, there really is no reason for us to have a dialogue.
Now, that’s how you ether a dumbass lol lol
This is bullshit. The courts are punishing Pharrell for a sound of a past era and not specifically a song. There isn’t much relation for either song…surely not enough for a copyright infringement lawsuit. Hopefully they can appeal to a higher court.
Except that it doesn’t sound similar, it sounds exactly like Marvin Gaye’s song…probably bc they stole it.
It sounds exactly the same without using any of the same notes, words or melody?
Got ta GIVE IT UP!!!! Hey: A PLAY ON WORDS!!!!
both these fools need to be tied up and burnt alive
When you trying to steal another artist work you need to pay up when these new age so call producers are digging in the crates just pay respect and if money is involved pay up
It doesn’t change the scope of what’s considered copyright. They fucking stole the song, I don’t know how anyone can make a serious argument otherwise.
They didn’t use any of the same notes, words or melody. How did they steal the song?
The instrumentals definitely were borrowed from Marvin Gaye’s song.
Robin Thicke admitted they used the song. He told on himself…
It was replicating notes and melodies. F Pharrell, just admit you sampled the song without getting clearance. Don’t ever disrespect an actual innovator
Lmao I see comments like these all the time. Pharell been around a long time dude. Even wrote/produced some of your fav singers ENTIRE ALBUM. Check the history of the Neptunes.
He been stealing a long time if you do the research. Check Peven Everett and Anne Marsen (ripped off Happy video) to name a few. He should clear his “samples” and stop faking….
Robin Thicke thought he had white privilage.. I guess not
They should have just asked the family/estate about sampling beforehand or offered them a percentage I don’t know the story tho…maybe they did and the estate said no and they did it anyways.
We’ll both of them Gotta give it up to the tune of $5 million.
I’m always hearing “stories” about him in the studio. I swear he owes a lot of money, so he tries to drag other people in with his problems.
This is like me having a famous painting and you just re did it all in marker