The pop stars Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were ordered to pay $7.3 million to the family of Marvin Gaye yesterday after a jury in Los Angeles decided that they had plagiarised one of his songs.
Blurred Lines, a hit song from 2013 that was written by Williams and sung by Thicke, was judged to have been copied from Got to Give it Up, released by Gaye in 1977.
“Right now, I feel free,” Nona Gaye, Marvin Gaye’s daughter, said. “Free from . . . Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s chains and what they tried to keep on us and the lies that were told.”
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.”
She added: “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, considering our options and you will hear more from us.”
Advertisement
The Gaye heirs had sought a portion of the $16 million in profits that the hit party song has made since its release.
Long before the trial, the song was already considered controversial.
Critics say that the lyrics “I hate these blurred lines / I know you want it” trivialise female consent and the song was banned in several universities.
One version of the song’s video also features naked women parading before Thicke.