Here's why your favourite artists are standing up for Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines"

by Richard Howard

August 31, 2016

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Bands like Tool, Weezer, Tears for Fears and Fall Out Boy think Marvin Gaye's estate's lawsuit against Robin Thicke & Pharrell sets a dangerous precedent.

In 2015, a jury decided that the Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams composition “Blurred Lines” had infringed on the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” awarding Gaye’s family $7.4 million in damages (which was later reduced to $5.3 million and 50% of all future royalties). Not only have the two singers appealed the verdict, they’ve been extremely vocal about the erroneous nature of the court’s decision and the dangerous precedent it sets (in fact, they were so sure of their innocence they instigated the lawsuit after public accusations of plagiarism by Gaye’s family).

Other musicians have openly agreed, and now some big names are taking a legal stand by participating in an amicus brief (a document provided by unsolicited parties to assist in a case) which supports Williams and Thicke in their appeal.

Members of Train, Linkin Park, Weezer, The Black Crowes, Fall Out Boy, Tool and Tears for Fears, John Oates and R. Kelly were among the 212 musicians that signed the brief. The document echoes “Blurred Lines'” songwriters’ claims that their tune was simply inspired by “Got to Give It Up” and other songs of that era and points out that the two songs “do not have similar melodies; the two songs do not even share a single melodic phrase.” The amicus brief then goes on to outline how different music could have been had such a precedent existed in the past and how it could stifle future creativity.

“One can only imagine what our music would have sounded like if David Bowie would have been afraid to draw from Shirley Bassie, or if the Beatles would have been afraid to draw from Chuck Berry, or if Elton John would have been afraid to draw from the Beatles, or if Elvis Presley would have been afraid to draw from his many influences… All music shares inspiration from prior musical works, especially within a particular musical genre. By eliminating any meaningful standard for drawing the line between permissible inspiration and unlawful copying, the judgment is certain to stifle creativity and impede the creative process. The law should provide clearer rules so that songwriters can know when the line is crossed, or at least where the line is.”

[h/t The Hollywood Reporter]

Tags: Music, News, black crowes, blurred lines, lawsuit, Linkin Park, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke, Tool

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