Photo: Press
Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and TI have been ordered to pay $7.3m to Marvin Gaye's estate following a court case regarding similarities to Marvin Gaye's 'Got To Give It Up'.
After a court case that took over a year to reach its' verdict, 'Blurred Lines' was found to have ripped off the soul classic. A lawyer from the estate has told Rolling Stone that he will be attempting to block all future sales until an agreement is reached. Gaye's estate had sought $25m in damages.
"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," Williams, Thicke and T.I. said in a joint statement. "'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."
Watch the video for 'Blurred Lines' below
The case began in August 2013, when TI, Williams and Thicke pre-emptively sued Gaye's estate and publisher after being threatened with legal action. The case has had a number of notable moments including news that the song had made over $16m profit on the song, Thicke being accused of having a 'Marvin Gaye fixation", quoted a GQ interview in which Thicke claimed he wanted the same 'groove' as Marvin Gaye record and that he was drunk and high on vicodin during the recording. Things reached such a point that the court not only were subjected to a piano medley and the songs being played together (which Thicke compared to the torture of Alex in A Clockwork Orange).
Attorney Richard Busch, who represented the Gaye family in court, told Rolling Stone that his clients shouldn't be viewed in a bad light. "They sued us, taking a declaration of non-infringement. They started this war and we just finished it."
This isn't the first controversy for 'Blurred Lines' - after release, the track and video were banned from many UK universities, with many believing that it glorified rape.
Legal dramas aside, Pharrell Williams is set to perform both in Leeds in June and at the Isle Of Wight festival. For tickets see below.
