Remember the super popular song Blurred Lines that came out back in 2013? Yup, that was the work of Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams, and T.I. From the get-go, it was a hit song, and sure enough, it brought the makers a ton of money through sales and streaming, but then there was some backlash going against this song. Why? Well, many people out there were saying that this sounds way too similar to Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit Got to Give It Up. Not the whole song, but the vibe of it matched quite a bit. And that is why there was this Blurred Lines Lawsuit filed against the makers of Blurred Lines.
What Was the Lawsuit Initially About?
Back in 1977, “Got to Give It Up” was a classic. Thicke and Pharrell did acknowledge that they were highly influenced by Marvin Gaye’s music, however, they declared that Blurred Lines was only an homage to it, not a copy. Yet, the bass line, rhythm, and the whole vibe were very reminiscent of Gaye’s song. As a result, the family of Gaye intervened.
Moreover, this was not an issue only about being right. A huge amount of money was involved. The whole incident was like this.
How Did the Lawsuit Begin?
In an attempt to get ahead of the situation, Robin Thicke and Pharrell filed a suit in August 2013. They actually sued first by asking the court to declare that they hadn’t copied Got to Give It Up. Nevertheless, it didn’t turn out as they had anticipated.
The family of Gaye replied with a lawsuit of their own, stating that Blurred Lines had copied the central aspects of the track. Moreover, they didn’t stop there but teamed up with Bridgeport Music which alleged that Blurred Lines was too similar to Funkadelic’s 1974 song Sexy Ways. T.I. was initially there because he rapped on the track, but then he was taken out as he didn’t write it.
What Was the Main Legal Question?
The main legal question in this case was whether or not you can copyright the “feel” of a song? Usually, copyright is for lyrics and melodies, but what about the groove or vibe?
According to Gaye’s children, the answer was yes, and they even had the experts demonstrate the common points of both pieces of music. On the other side, Thicke and Pharrell claimed the contrary stating it was impossible to copyright a general style or groove.
The judge’s decision to allow the case to go to trial was based on there being enough evidence to consider. The trial formally started in February 2015. Important to know: no Marvin Gaye’s full tracks were played in the courtroom as the judge thought it could prejudice the jury too much. Only the scored music was accessible.
What Did the Jury Decide?
The decision from the jury on March 10, 2015, was that the Blurred Lines had infringed Gaye’s Got to Give It Up. The punishment? $7.4 million initially, then the court lowered it to $5.3 million.
Here’s how the damages were split:
- Robin Thicke: $1.77 million
- Pharrell Williams and his company: about $357,000
- Together: an additional $2.85 million
In addition, the family of Marvin Gaye got 50% of the songwriting and publishing revenue from Blurred Lines not only for now but also for the future. So if the song earns money in the future, half of the money will go to Gaye’s estate.
What Happened After That?
Legal disputes didn’t stop even after the decision. Two times, in 2016 and 2019, Gaye’s family twice sought $3.5 million more for legal fees, but the court rejected both applications.
Pharrell stated in an interview that he had “reverse-engineered” Marvin Gaye’s style for Blurred Lines. Gaye’s family alleged that he lied in court, but the judge issued a ruling in February 2021, deciding that this claim lacks evidence and hence dismissing it.
