‘Blurred Lines’ reward to Marvin Gaye family cut by $2 million

While Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke will be paying the Marvin Gaye family royalties for “Blurred Lines” for years, the large initial reward they have to pay has been trimmed. A judge dropped the verdict by $2 million.

Thicke and Williams were initially ordered to pay the Gaye family $7.4 million after they were sued for copyright infringement. The family of the late R&B legend said that “Blurred Lines,” which became the biggest hit single of summer 2013, was a rip off of Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up.”

However, U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt cut the reward to $5.3 million on Tuesday, The Associated Press reports. Still, they will have to pay the Gaye family 50 percent of all future royalties for “Blurred Lines.”

Unfortunately for Thicke and Pharrell, the judge denied their request for a new trial. He also blocked the Gaye family’s request to stop all sales and performances of “Blurred Lines.”

Rapper T.I. actually got some good news, since Kronstadt ruled that he didn’t commit copyright infringement. The rapper is featured on the song and had a writing credit.

Thicke recently spoke with the New York Times about the verdict. “I know the difference between inspiration and theft. I’m constantly inspired, but I would never steal. And neither would Pharrell,” the singer explained.

 

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