It looks as though Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams don’t plan on giving up the money lost in their court case without a fight. Earlier this week the infringing duo lost their case against Marvin Gaye’s family after a jury found them guilty of copyright infringement.
In an interview with Fox Business Network, Howard King, Thicke and Pharrell’s attorney, said he plans on appealing the $7.4 million verdict. “We owe it to songwriters around the world to make sure this verdict doesn’t stand,” King stated. “My clients know that they wrote the song ‘Blurred Lines’ from their hearts and souls and no other source. … We are going to exercise every post-trial remedy we have to make sure this verdict does not stand. We look at it as being in the seventh inning of a game that could go into extra innings.”
Gaye’s family initially sought $25,000,000 in their lawsuit against Thicke, Pharrell and T.I. for what they thought was blatant infringement of Marvin Gaye’s 1977 song “Got to Give It Up.”
The family is now raising eyebrows at Pharrell’s song “Happy” and the fact that it does seem similar to Gaye’s 1965 hit “Ain’t That Peculiar,” but King scoffs at the idea.
“Pharrell has readily admitted that Marvin Gaye is one of his idols, but it’s silk and rayon,” King said. “If this is the way the law is going to go, then the creator of rayon better look behind him for lawsuits from the owners of silk, because even though they feel the same, they are structurally, completely different, just like these songs."
The singers issued a joint statement about the lawsuit’s verdict on Tuesday:
“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,” the three stars said. “‘Blurred Lines’ was created from the heart and minds of Pharrell, Robin and T.I. and not taken from anyone or anywhere else. We are reviewing the decision, considering our options, and you will hear more from us soon about this matter.”