A US jury on Tuesday ordered pop stars Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams to pay more than $7 million in damages to Marvin Gaye's family, ruling the pair copied his music in writing their 2013 mega-hit "Blurred Lines."
The eight-member California panel, which had been deliberating since last week, found that the pop stars lifted parts of Gaye's 1977 hit "Got to Give It Up."
"I'm so filled with emotion that it's hard to get the words out," said Gaye's daughter Nona, hailing the "miracle" verdict.
The family took legal action "because he (Marvin) can't do it for himself," she added.
Gaye family lawyer Richard Busch said he plans to seek an injunction blocking future sales of "Blurred Lines," which was a worldwide hit.
Neither Williams nor Thicke, who had both testified during the trial, were in court to hear the verdict.
But a spokeswoman for Williams said: "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.
"Pharrell created 'Blurred Lines' from his heart, mind and soul, and the song was not taken from anyone or anywhere else. We are reviewing the decision and considering our options," she added in a statement.
The Gaye heirs had sought a portion of the nearly $16.5 million in profits that the hit party song has reaped since its release two years ago.
The jury awarded about $4 million in damages, plus roughly $3.4 million in profits.
Controversial hit
Evidence presented in court suggested that Thicke and Williams each earned more than $5 million from the success of the record.
"Blurred Lines" was the biggest-selling song of 2013 in the United States, selling a total of 6.5 million copies, according to Billboard.
During the two-week trial, Williams said he understood why fans connected the two songs, but explained: "Soul music sounds like soul music... I must've been channeling that late '70s feeling."
The Gaye estate had said that "Blurred Lines" copied elements of the 1970s track. The two sides brought in music experts who dissected the structures of the two songs to debate the merits of the claim.
The jury cleared rapper Clifford "T.I." Harris Jr. -- who collaborated with the pair on the song, and made more than $700,000 from it -- of any wrongdoing.
At the time the Gaye song was copyrighted, only written music -- not sound recordings -- could be registered with the copyright office.
Although jurors saw the "Blurred Lines" video and heard the song, they were told to only consider the chords, melodies and lyrics of the songs, rather than production elements.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed two years ago by the "Blurred Lines" stars as a preemptive legal strike to protect the song from claims that it was derived from the decades-old Gaye hit.
The Gaye family filed counterclaims alleging that Thicke's fascination with the soul icon led to the misappropriation of his work in "Blurred Lines" and in the title track of Thicke's 2011 album "Love After War."
Long before the trial, "Blurred Lines" was controversial.
The song contains the refrain "I hate these blurred lines / I know you want it" and has been condemned by critics who say the lyrics refer to the issue of sexual consent.
The video features naked women parading before Thicke.
Gaye was shot and killed by his father on the eve of his 45th birthday in 1984, leaving behind a remarkable string of hits -- led by "Let's Get It On," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Sexual Healing" -- that remain pop, funk and soul classics.
AFP
Wed Mar 11 2015
Nona Gaye (left) talks to the media outside the Los Angeles U.S. District Court after a jury awarded the singer's children nearly $7.4 million after determiningRobin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied their father's mega-hit. - AP Photo/Nick Ut
Asas ekonomi kukuh, petunjuk pertumbuhan mampan
Pakar Ekonomi, MIDF Research, Abdul Mui’zz Morhalim mengupas berkenaan situasi ekonomi negara ketika ini, termasuk pengukuhan ringgit serta faktor yang bakal mempengaruhi pertumbuhan pada masa akan datang.
Data & Statistik KRI: Perubahan perbelanjaan isi rumah di Malaysia (2019 - 2022)
Pola perbelanjaan isi rumah berubah ketara selepas pandemik, berdasarkan kajian Khazanah Research Institute. Dapatan ini memberikan gambaran mengenai ketidaksamaan kewangan antara kumpulan pendapatan.
AWANI Ringkas: Fatwa GISBH di Selangor
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Ringgit dbuka tinggi berbanding dolar AS
Pada 8 pagi, unit tempatan berada pada 4.2160/2240 berbanding dolar AS daripada paras penutup 4.2185/2250 pada Khamis.
Konflik Asia Barat: Harga minyak lonjak lebih 5 peratus dalam tempoh sehari
Niaga hadapan minyak mentah Brent menokok 5.03 peratus pada AS$77.62 setong.
[TERKINI] Harga minyak melonjak lebih 5 peratus akibat konflik di Asia Barat
Harga minyak mentah global melonjak selepas konflik di Asia Barat semakin meruncing. Pada Khamis, minyak mentah Brent naik 5.03%, menokok kepada $77.62 setong, manakala U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) turut meningkat 5.15% kepada $73.71 setong. Kenaikan ini membawa jumlah peningkatan harga minyak minggu ini melebihi 8%, yang tertinggi sejak Januari lalu.
[TERKINI] Perkembangan terkini evakuasi rakyat Malaysia dari Lubnan
Kementerian Luar Negeri mengesahkan bahawa seramai empat (4) orang rakyat Malaysia telah
selamat tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) dari Lubnan pada pagi ini,
4 Oktober 2024. Seorang lagi rakyat Malaysia dijadualkan tiba pada petang hari yang sama.
selamat tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) dari Lubnan pada pagi ini,
4 Oktober 2024. Seorang lagi rakyat Malaysia dijadualkan tiba pada petang hari yang sama.
NR-REE: Perak lancar 2 inisiatif, pacu revolusi mineral negara
Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad berkata, inisiatif itu adalah langkah kerajaan negeri dalam merealisasikan agenda perlombongan bertanggungjawab ekoran penemuan lantanida, sejenis Unsur Nadir Bumi Bukan Radioaktif (NR-REE) di Mukim Kenering, Hulu Perak.
Paya Indah Wetlands diberi nafas baharu, mantapkan ekopelancongan di Selangor
Perjanjian berkenaan akan berkuat kuasa hingga 31 Julai 2037 dengan DWSB mengambil alih aspek operasi dan pengurusan PIW.
#AWANIRingkas 4 Oktober 2024 | 9 AM
Berikut merupakan rangkuman berita setakat 9 pagi, 4 Oktober 2024
1️⃣ Menyeleweng daripada akidah Islam sebenar
2️⃣ Hasil langkah pengurangan risiko bencana
3️⃣ Pakistan gembira perbincangan produktif
#awaniringkas
1️⃣ Menyeleweng daripada akidah Islam sebenar
2️⃣ Hasil langkah pengurangan risiko bencana
3️⃣ Pakistan gembira perbincangan produktif
#awaniringkas