The social media buzzes with intrigued as the 11 time Grammy Award winner, Pharrell Williams, and Robin Thicke were accused by the heirs of the clan of a Motown artist, Marvin Gaye. A music copyright infringement case was filed on the two pop hit makers. The alleged plagiarized piece was the 1977 song entitled "Got to Give it Up"
In a closed door trial held last Thursday, the essentials of the lawsuit were deliberated. It was recalled that the lawsuit originated with the "mistake" made by the late singer's ex-wife, Jan Gaye, who compared the feel and ambience of the song.
According to Attorney Howard King, Thicke and Williams' lawyer, "Any of us are free to build on 'Got to Give It Up' - as long as we don't copy the notes of 'Got to Give It Up' . " He also added that the Gaye family does not own a genre or a groove.
This statement was in response to the claims of the lawyer of the Gaye's family, Attorney Richard Busch. "Marvin Gaye left his song to his children. They're protecting his legacy."
The "Got to Give Up" written music was copyrighted in 1977. The sound recordings were not yet accepted in the copyright office.
However, if the accused, Williams and Thicke together with the other people involved in the publishing of the song, were proven guilty of copyright infringement, millions of dollars worth of compensation would be given to the heirs of the song, Nona and Frankie Gaye. The family is seeking a $40 million amount for the damages incurred to the legacy.
Williams had testified Wednesday and had denied the claims that he had knowingly lifted key elements from the song "Got to Give Up" and inserted them to his song "Blurred Lines". He also cited in his testimony that he had loved the music of Gaye while he was growing up.
Pharrell also claimed that the reason why fans were able to link the two songs was because soul music sounds like soul music. He said that he must have been channeling a late 70's feel and the Gaye piece "did not cross my mind" while he made the Thicke hit.
The track share "feel - not infringement," he testified. (Westside Today)
Recently, reported via Rolling Stones, Thicke and Pharrell had lost the case and is to pay the Gaye family $7.2 million.
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