Marvin Gaye

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Robin Thicke and Pharrell Lose ‘Blurred Lines’ Lawsuit

Robin Thicke and Pharrell

Robin Thicke and Pharrell

A California judge has ordered Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams to pay nearly $5 million in damages over similarities between “Blurred Lines” and Marvin Gaye‘s “Got To Give It Up.”

In addition, Gaye’s estate will also receive 50 percent of future songwriting and publishing royalties from the 2013 hit.

The ruling ends a landmark five-year legal battle in which Gaye’s family alleged that the artists were guilty of copyright infringement. The pair filed for an appeal in 2015 after a jury ordered them to pay $7.4 million in damages, later reduced to $5.3 million.

Related: Watch N.O.R.E.’s ‘Uno Más’ Video Feat. Pharrell Williams

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Legal, Marvin Gaye, Music Production, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke,
Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Ed Sheeran Sued For Allegedly Copying Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is reportedly being sued over claims he copied Marvin Gaye‘s “Let’s Get It On” for his smash hit, “Thinking Out Loud.”

TMZ reports that the family of the co-writer of Gaye’s song, Ed Townsend, is taking legal action against Sheeran. The family alleges that Sheeran ripped off the melody, harmony, and rhythm of “Let’s Get It On” for his own track.

“Thinking Out Loud” won Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at this year’s Grammy awards and went multi-platinum around the world. The track is also Sheeran’s highest-charting solo single to date, having peaked at number two on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Both Gaye died in 1984 and Townsend passed away in 2003.

Compare the two tracks below and let us know what you think in the comment section.

Related: Ed Sheeran Covers Fetty Wap’s ‘Trap Queen’

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Ed Sheeran, Legal, Marvin Gaye,
Saturday, October 24, 2015

Watch Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s ‘Blurred Lines’ Testimonies

Pharrell and Robin Thicke
 
Video has surfaced of Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s depositions in their lawsuit with the Marvin Gaye estate.
 
The exclusive footage, which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, comes months after a judge ruled that Thicke and Pharrell ripped off Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up.” The two artists were ordered to pay $5.4 million to Gaye’s estate, which they are now appealing.
 
Watch Thicke and Pharrell’s candid responses below.
 


 
Related: Jury Rules Against Robin Thicke & Pharrell in ‘Blurred Lines’ Trial

| Music Industry, Videos
Legal, Marvin Gaye, Music Production, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke,
Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Jury Rules Against Robin Thicke & Pharrell in ‘Blurred Lines’ Trial

Blurred Lines
 
A jury has ruled that Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I.’s hit “Blurred Lines” copied Marvin Gaye’s 1977 song “Got to Give It Up.” Thicke and Williams will pay the Gaye family a total of $7.4 million in copyright damages.
 
The ruling came after a two-week trial that included testimony from Thicke’s ex-wife Paula Patton and an in-court piano performance by Thicke himself. It was revealed that Thicke and Williams each made over $5 million on “Blurred Lines.”
 
According to Billboard, “To demonstrate copyright infringement, Busch instead leaned on the musicologists, who testified of similarities in signature phrases, hook, keyboard-bass interplay, lyrics and theme of the songs. Although ‘Blurred Lines’ was the primary ticket, the Gaye family also attempted to prove that Thicke’s ‘Love After War’ was an infringement of Gaye’s ‘After the Dance’ too.”
 
Billboard also reported that during his closing statement, Thicke and Williams’ attorney Howard King warned the jury about artistic freedom. “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 said. “This is more important than money. This affects the creativity of young musicians.”
 
Listen to “Blurred Lines” and “Got to Give It Up” below.
 

 

 
Related: Jimmy Fallon, Robin Thicke, & The Roots Perform “Blurred Lines” with Classroom Instruments

| Music Industry
Legal, Marvin Gaye, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke, T.I.,

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