More or less fully reported here on Sidebar, here’s the current stage of a lawsuit and countersuit involving Robin Thicke, the late Marvin Gaye, one song “Blurred Lines,” and another song, “Got to Give It Up:”
- Robin Thicke sues Marvin Gaye estate because Thicke’s song, “Blurred Lines,” sounds mighty like Marvin Gaye’s song “Got to Give It Up.” (A big “huh?” emanated from me.)
- Marvin Gaye’s family filed countersuit.
- And now: Judge Orders Trial in ‘Blurred Lines’ Case – NYTimes.com:
A federal judge said a trial was needed to determine whether the hit song “Blurred Lines” copied elements of Marvin Gaye’s music. The ruling Thursday by Judge John A. Kronstadt of United States District Court in Los Angeles says there is a genuine dispute about whether the song by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied elements of Mr. Gaye’s song “Got to Give It Up.” The Gaye family also claims his “After the Dance” was improperly used for Mr. Thicke’s hit “Love After War.” The judge ruled a trial would be needed to decide that, too. A trial is set for Feb. 10.
No kidding about those “Blurred Lines.”
UPDATE 7/2/2015. Although I missed news of the (big) jury verdict, I picked this up today via New York Law Journal, illustrating yet again how big jury verdicts don’t always stand:
Judge May Trim Damages in ‘Blurred Lines’ Infringement
Amanda Bronstad, The National Law Journal
A federal judge has tentatively upheld a nearly $7.4 million jury verdict in the copyright battle over the hit song “Blurred Lines” but plans to reduce the damages amount.
AND YET ANOTHER UPDATE: 7/15/2015. As promised above, the judge did reduce the damages amount.
A judge on Tuesday trimmed more than $2 million from a verdict against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over their hit
Source: Judge Trims ‘Blurred Lines’ Song Dispute Verdict to $5.3M – The New York Times