Pharrell and Robin Thicke ordered to pay nearly $5 million in “Blurred Lines” lawsuit
Marvin Gaye’s estate successfully sued the musicians for copying 1977’s “Got to Give It Up.”
A California federal judge has concluded the lawsuit against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams by Marvin Gaye's family, by ordering the two artists to pay the estate almost $5 million. In 2013, Gaye's family launched an ultimately successful lawsuit against Thicke and Williams for plagiarizing Gaye’s 1977 song “Got to Give It Up” in the creation of the 2013 song "Blurred Lines."
Judge John A. Kronstadt awarded the Gaye family $4,983,766.85 in total. Thicke, Williams and his publishing company More Water From Nazareth must pay $2,848,846.50. Thicke will separately pay $1,768,191.88 and Williams and his company will pay an additional $357,630.96 to cover profits from the infringement. The Gaye family will also receive half of all future royalties and publishing revenue from the song.
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