The final verdict for the long-running battle over 'Blurred Lines' also allow the family of the late Motown singer to get a running royalty of half the tune's songwriter and publishing revenue.
- December 14, 2018
AceShowbiz - Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams have been ordered to pay almost $5 million (£3.9 million) as their long-running "Blurred Lines" copyright case comes to a close.
In 2013, Marvin Gaye's heirs began legal action over the hit, which they claimed infringed the copyright of their late father's 1977 song "Got to Give It Up", and they were awarded a massive $7.4 million (£5.8 million) in a 2015 trial, but the figure was later reduced to $5.3 million (£4.1 million).
The legal teams for Thicke and Williams launched various legal challenges against the verdict over the years, but on Monday, December 10, the case was settled once and for all, and a California federal judge issued a judgment for almost $5 million against the duo.
According to Billboard.com, Judge John A. Kronstadt ordered Thicke, Williams and Williams' More Water From Nazareth Publishing Inc. to jointly pay Gaye's family $2,848,846 (£2.2 million) in damages. Additionally, he ordered Thicke to pay $1,768,191 (£1.4 million) and Williams and his publishing company another $357,631 (£282,000) to the Gaye family, bringing the grand total to $4,983,766 (£3.9 million).
In the judgment, it was declared the Gaye family are also entitled to receive prejudgment interest on the damages and respective profits against each of them totaling $9,097 (£7,000). The interest will continue to accumulate until the judgment is paid off in full and each party is responsible for their own legal fees.
Going forward, the Gaye family are entitled to a running royalty of half the Blurred Lines songwriter and publishing revenue.
Thicke and Williams have yet to respond to the settlement, but after the original verdict was made in 2015, a representative for the "Happy" hitmaker told Billboard, "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. Pharrell created 'Blurred Lines' from his heart, mind and soul and the song was not taken from anyone or anywhere else."
