Popular American-Canadian singer Robin Thicke is in hot water. His catchy song, "Blurred Lines" that also featured Pharell Williams is said to have infringed on an original song rendered by the gifted and enigmatic Motown hitmaker Marvin Gaye.
Listening to the two songs will show that the beat is very similar. Thicke and Pharrell had been notified that they must pay $7.3 million following a jury's decision that there were, indeed, elements copied from Gaye's hit song, "Got to Give It Up." It is a landmark case that has sent a very important message to those in the music profession: there may be a thin line between inspiration and artistic theft, but members of the music industry must strive to be original.
Back in 2013, Robin Thicke, with Pharrell Williams and Clifford Harris Jr. had gone to court for a preemptive lawsuit after hearing the assertions made by Gaye's family . They sought to counteract allegations that "Blurred Lines" copied illegally from Gaye's song. get some form of court declaration that "Blurred Lines" did not actually infringe on the defendants' rights. Recreating a sound of an era, it was maintained, did not constitute copyright infringement. Gaye's family filed a counterclaim underscoring that "Blurred Lines" contained plagiarized content. The family also cited plagiarism of another of Marvin Gaye's songs. In an interview with a well-known magazine, Robin Thicke has been quoted as saying that Marvin Gaye's 'Got to Give It Up' was one of his favorites.
Indeed, it can be noted that countless copyright lawsuits do not carry over into trial since most of them involve non-protectable ideas. The song "Blurred Lines' however went the distance and had well-regarded litigators joining the fray.
The court's decision versus "Blurred Lines" presents Marvin Gaye's family the opportunity to confer with the artists concerned for royalties and credits. Incidentally, "Blurred Lines" was a phenomenal hit single that sold over seven million copies in the USA.
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