Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams' "Blurred Lines" lawsuit is starting to look like it won't end in their favor. According to The Hollywood Reporter, U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt has denied Thicke and Williams' motion for a summary judgment in a copyright lawsuit concerning their 2013 megahit, concluding that the song may have too much in common with Marvin Gaye's 1977 hit "Got To Give It Up."
Kronstadt writes that the family of Marvin Gaye "have made a sufficient showing that elements of 'Blurred Lines' may be substantially similar to protected, original elements of 'Got To Give It Up.' Defendants have identified these with particularity for purposes of analytic dissection."
Back in August, Thicke brought a lawsuit against the family of the late soul legend after facing accusations that his songs "Blurred Lines" and "Love After War" ripped off Gaye's hits "Got To Give It Up" and "After the Dance," respectively. "Gaye defendants are claiming ownership of an entire genre," Thicke's lawsuit reads, "as opposed to a specific work."
Despite Thicke and Williams' claim that "Blurred Lines" simply copied the "feel" of "Got To Give It Up" rather than any specific melodies or chord changes, Judge Kronstadt ruled that the two songs are quite similar compositionally.
However, he has also concludes that Gaye's family "have failed to produce evidence that creates a genuine issue as to whether the copyrights in 'Got to Give It Up' and 'After the Dance' encompass material other than that reflected in the lead sheets deposited with the Copyright Office," meaning that the production (or "feel") of "Got To Give It Up" likely cannot be protected under Copyright law.
You can check out both "Blurred Lines" and "Got To Give It Up" right here and compare the songs for yourself. Do you think they're too similar?
