The long-running copyright case over the controversial “Blurred Lines” has finally ended, with Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams made to pay $5m in damages to Marvin Gaye’s family.
Gaye’s family initially won the case in 2015, but Thicke and Williams appealed. A California court upheld the verdict in March this year, and the new amended judgement confirms the settlement. Thicke, Williams and Williams’ publishing company, More Water From Nazareth, are jointly required to pay Gaye’s family damages of $2.8m. But Thicke can be considered to have been dealt the worse hand as he has been ordered to pay an additional $1.7m, while Williams and his publishing company will pay only another $357,630.
“Blurred Lines” is considered a hit song, but there is a lot of controversy surrounding the song as it references consent in a questionable way. “Blurred Lines” and “I know you want it” show that the girl Thicke is talking to is not really into him, but he thinks he can still have his way with her. The song clearly disrespects women and has even been described as “creepy” and even “rape-y” by critics and other celebs.
