Robin Thicke, Pharrell, T.I. Appeal Guilty Verdict In “Blurred Lines” Lawsuit

Today in Tha Wire, Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. are seeing double after being found guilty of copyright infringement for their 2013 mega hit, “Blurred Lines.” Their biggest problem was that the track they sampled was an even bigger hit when Marvin Gaye put it out in 1977. In fact, the trio's song was a little too familiar, and that led to them being sued by late soul legend's family. Both songs are below. You be the judge.

Gaye's heirs filed a multi-million dollar suit against the music stars that same year. The families number one complaint: "Blurred Lines" was an unmistakable, unapproved rip-off of their father's iconic tune "Got To Give It Up." After a couple of years of back and fourth, the trio lost their case and were found guilty of copyright infringement. When the trial wrapped-up, the Gaye family was awarded $5.3 million for damages and profits.

Thicke, Pharrell and Tip vowed to appeal the verdict, and they did just that this past Wednesday. According to reports, they're hoping to persuade a judge to overturn last year’s judgment altogether. Their appeal contests that a verdict like this could “chill musical creativity and inhibit the process by which later artists draw inspiration from earlier artists to create new popular music”.

If the Court of Appeals refuses to reverse the trial verdict, they gotta back-up plan. They're going to simply ask that the original award be reduced by a few mill, because the dollar amount on the damages and profits were not supported by “competent evidence.” That said, the Gaye family is ready, and says they will fight this tooth and nail.

We'll see how it goes and, of course, I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, for all things entertainment, listen to Tha Wire at 12:50 p.m. and 3:50 p.m., every weekday on The Peoples Station 107 Jamz.