Back in March, a jury ruled Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams' "Blurred Lines" copied Marvin Gaye's 1977 hit "Got To Give It Up" enough to constitute copyright infringement. As a result, the two were ordere to pay the Gaye family $7.4 million in damages. Following the ruling, Pharrell spoke out exclaiming that the verdict threatened the creativity of aspiring artists. As a result, Robin and Pharrell's lawyers sought out a retrial.
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt brought down his gavel hard in the new ruling with a mix of good and bad news. The good: he trimmed the amount of damages down from $7.4 million to $5.3 million. The bad: he deteremined that rapper T.I. who rapped on the hit song is also liable along with the labels involved including UMG Recordings, Interscope and Star Trak Entertainment. The judge awarded the Gaye family half of all "Blurred Lines" songwriting and publishing royalties.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gaye family attorney Richard Busch exclaimed "thrilled with the decision by the Court not only affirming the decision of the jury that Mr. Thicke and Mr. Williams committed copyright infringement, but also the decision holding Mr. Harris and Universal liable as well." However, Robin and Pharrell are expected to appeal the decision with Pharell's attorney Howard King stating "We look forward to exercising our further remedies and ultimately achieving clarity on the difference between inspiration and copyright infringement." You can read the full 56-page opinion on the ruling here.
