Family of Marvin Gaye Refused Robin Thicke’s Initial Six-Figure Settlement Over ‘Blurred Lines’

Before the 'Blurred Line' was crossed, Robin Thicke proposed a six-figure settlement to the estate of Marvin Gaye in order to avoid a legal battle in the courts over his hit single, 'Blurred Lines.' The family rejected the offer.

According to Billboard, sources close to the issue said that Robin Thicke offered a financial settlement to Marvin Gaye III, Frankie Christian Gaye and Nona Marvisa Gaye after they accused him of infringing on their late father's classic song, "Got to Give It Up."

Thicke later filed a pre-emptive lawsuit on Aug. 15 against the Gaye family. In his suit, Thicke, along with Pharrell Williams and T.I., claim that "Blurred Lines" is an original composition and it does not infringe on Gaye's song at all.

Marvin Gaye III is angry with Robin Thicke's lawsuit and is not happy with how the singer is handling his business.

Both song's do sound similar, but are they in fact the same?

According to musicologist professor Ron Sadoff of New York University, who was hired by Billboard, to answer everyone's question, did Thicke copy Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" for 'Blurred Lines'?

The Film and Multimedia and Music and Performing Arts professor says not quite, and told Billboard:

Thicke’s 'Blurred Lines' may have been inspired by Marvin Gaye’s 'Got to Give It Up,' but the songs’ respective ‘touch and feel,’ as well as their use of structural musical materials, are common to many popular songs."

"From a musicological perspective, the songs share even less similarities in terms of their use of structural materials such as melody and harmony. 'Blurred Lines' is composed squarely within the major mode, while 'Got To Give It Up' revolves around the blues scale. In this key area of melodic content, there doesn’t appear to be evidence that would suggest plagiarism on the part of Robin Thicke."

Now it's up to a judge to sort thing's out, or let's hope both parties reach a civil agreement, eventually.

I personally the songs sounded similar, but never thought that Robin blatantly hi-jacked the song's style. What do you think? Leave us comments below.