konknaijaboy | On 12, Mar 2015

Gaye family will get $7.4 million

A jury has ruled that Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I.‘s hit ”Blurred Lines” copied Marvin Gaye‘s song “Got to Give It Up”, AP reports. The jury awarded the Gaye family $7.4 million.

Update: Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. have shared a statement:

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.  Blurred Lines was created from the heart and minds of Pharrell, Robin and T.I. and 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.

During the two-week trial, Thicke, Pharrell, T.I., and Thicke’s ex-wife Paula Patton all testified. Thicke also perfomed a piano medley in the courtroom, including songs by U2, the Beatles, and Michael Jackson. It was revealed that Thicke and Pharrell each made over $5 million on “Blurred Lines”.

In his closing argument, the Gayes’ lawyer Richard Busch told the jury that the case was really about honesty, as Billboard reports: ”What it boils down to is ‘yes, we copied. Yes we took it. Yes, we lied about it. Yes we changed our story every time.’ It boils down to this: who do you believe? Are you going to believe Robin Thicke, who told us all he’s not an honest person?”

According to Billboard, Howard King, the lawyer for Thicke and Pharrell, warned the jury that “the wrong decision here will stifle musicians and the record companies that finance them [in signifying] that you cannot honor a genre, a style or a groove.” He added, “This is more important than money. This affects the creativity of young musicians.”

King also asked the jury, “Why would Mr. Williams need to copy anyone to create a hit?”

“Blurred Lines”:

“Got to Give It Up”:

Source: Pitchfork