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A jury in Los Angeles has found that Robin Thicke and his collaborators on “Blurred Lines” improperly borrowed from Marvin Gaye‘s 1977 hit “Got to Give It Up,” awarding the family of the late soul singer $7.3 million dollars for the copyright infringement.
Gaye’s family sued Thicke and his co-writers Pharrell Williams and rapper T.I., accusing them of using material from the late soul singer’s hit for their 2013 smash.
Both Thicke and Pharrell appeared in court defending their work, with Pharrell admitting similarities in testimony and Thicke admitting he was a fan of the Gaye hit.
A statement attributed to Thicke, Pharrell and T.I. reads, “While we respect the judicial process, we are extremely disappointed in the ruling made today, which sets a horrible precedent for music and creativity going forward. Pharrell created ‘Blurred Lines’ from his heart, mind and soul and the song was not taken from anyone or anywhere else. We are reviewing the decision, considering our options and you will hear more from us soon about this matter.”
Following the verdict, Gaye’s daughter, Nona Gaye, remarked, “I feel free, free from, honestly free from Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s chains.”
Professor Michael Harrington, Music Business Program chair at the SAE Institute Nashville, never believed the Gaye family had a strong case, and is incredulous that the jury found in favor of Gaye’s family.
“I hope they appeal it ’cause this is just really absurd,” he told ABC News Radio. “If this constitutes copyright infringement, then there’s gonna be so many lawsuits. Because there’s no melody in common, no matter what anyone wants to say. There are no chord changes, there’s no rhythm issue, there are no lyrics. So I’ve never seen anything like that.”
If the two songs don’t share a melody, or chord changes or lyrics, why did the jury base its decision on?
Harrington explains, “I think it’s just this idea that sound matters, if it sounds like something. Like,they both have cow bell or Coke bottle, whatever it is, virtually in the same speed. You hear people in the background having a good time. I think it’s that vibe…he sings a falsetto, you hear that in both songs, it’s the same style. That’s what they fell for.”
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