Pharrell Williams cleared of perjury charges in "Blurred Lines" lawsuit
Music Features Pharrell Williams
Bet ya didn’t think we’d have a reason to still talk about Robin Thicke, T.I., and producer-slash-co-writer Pharrell Williams’ 2013 creeper anthem “Blurred Lines” eight years later. Time is funny, though, and multiple lawsuits have a way of dragging things out beyond their expiration date. The legal troubles surrounding the ditty appear to be winding down now: According to Okayplayer, the California court has cleared Williams of the lingering perjury charges that were originally filed in 2019.
Though the main copyright lawsuit filed by Marvin Gaye’s surviving family was settled back in 2015, a new case stemmed from Williams’ conversation with Rick Rubin for GQ. In the interview, Williams said he felt hurt by the verdict and that “Blurred Lines” was not a rip-off of Gaye’s music, but rather a “reverse-engineering” of his work. The family responded to that bold assertion with a lawsuit that accused Williams of committing perjury in the previous case.
“The statements by Williams during the November 2019 interview were cryptic and amenable to multiple interpretations,” United States District Court Judge John Kronstadt wrote in regards to his ruling. “For example, it is unclear what Williams meant by ‘reverse-engineer[ing].’ Read in context, Williams statement about ‘reverse-engineering’ could be interpreted as a process in which he remembers his feelings when listening to particular music, and then attempts to recreate those feelings in his own works.”
Since its release, both Thicke and Williams have denounced “Blurred Lines.” In reference to the song’s lyrics, Williams told GQ that he realized “there are men who use that same language when taking advantage of a woman.” (Imagine!) Thicke recently spoke to the New York Post about the music video—something that he made after he “lost perspective”—which he promised he would never recreate in any form. Let’s hope he sticks to that.
25 Comments
Finally, our long national nightmare is over.
Back to ‘Normal’, right?
[FARTS]
I’m ssuming you don’t practice copyright law. The perjury suit is a side note for copyright law. The original law suit and 9th circuit decision were a very big deal and we’re still dealing with their impacts.
lol wut
I mean yeah, but AVC hasn’t posted his obituary yet.
That song is garbage, but come the fuck on, they sued him for perjury AFTER they won multiple millions for the copyright lawsuit?
Honestly, I have so much issues with “rights holders” of dead people’s IP.
There should be a way to protect those IP without enriching “sons and daughters of” that have not done a single thing in their lives.
Lawsuit settlements should go to charity or something…
“they sued him for perjury AFTER they won multiple millions for the copyright lawsuit?”
Because AFTER they won multiple millions for the copyright lawsuit, HE FUCKING LIED ABOUT IT and tried to pretend that he didn’t steal it.
Why WOULDN’T they sue?
I think generally artists leave the rights to their work for the sole purpose of enriching those individuals, no different than someone leaving their business to their children. However, to sue someone for making a song that “sounds inspired by” the “feel” of another song is ridiculous, and to then try to push perjury charges after receiving an extremely questionable ruling in your favour is some of the scummiest shit imaginable.
From this day forth you may only make music if you have never heard music before.
Sometimes I wish that all these artists’ children who are living off their parents’ residuals could meet an odd young boy through a zany coincidence, and inadvertently become a part of the boy’s life. Then they would learn the emptiness of their existence.
The Marvin Gaye estate seems to be remarkably petty. First they somehow manage to gain millions through a highly questionable legal verdict, and instead of just quitting while they’re ahead they do this?
Now he’s clear to answer the Fashion Police as to why he’s dressed like a baked potato.
Just don’t be alerting them to his outfit. Remember, snitches get double stitches.
and he looks like he’s getting sour cream and chives.
Like the protagonist of 24 Hour Garage People?
It’s like, what’s going on here?
Right? Like, let’s settle this like grow-ups. C’mon, let’s get it on.
When I was in university, one of the more entertaining classes I had was the one that debated the lyrics and video of Blurred Lines. While most thought the lyrics were gross, the video was more contentious. Half the class thought the video was fine with it and the other half was appalled. The debate reached a point where a more religious student reasoned that videos like that are what cause unprotected sex and HIV. There were maybe 4 guys in that class out 30 who sat wide eyed watching like they were at tennis match just hoping the teacher did not ask them anything.
“Read in context, Williams statement about ‘reverse-engineering’ could be interpreted as a process in which he remembers his feelings when listening to particular music, and then attempts to recreate those feelings in his own works.”So Marvin Gaye’s family thinks they not only have a copyright on styles of music, but also on feelings too. I guess if this lawsuit went through nobody would ever be allowed to be inspired by someone else’s art again, or else get ready to be sued. God, fuck these people. Maybe you wouldn’t be so money hungry if you hadn’t literally killed your meal ticket.
In their dubious defense: the court apparently decided that the feeling of music could be copyrighted. I still hate that decision.
Yeah, the verdict is utter bullshit. Every R&B song copies the musical style of every other. It’s not plagarism!!!!!
A truly boneheaded move. And people at the time were cheering because they didn’t like the song or Robin Thicke, which is understandable, but I was like, “Uh, do you realize the deleterious effect this decision is going to have on artists?” Apparently they did not.
No. You’re quoting the words of the judge who cleared him in the 2nd case. Gaye’s family accused Pharrell of admitting he stole the song, and therefore perjuring himself in the first case when he obviously claimed the opposite. The judge, ruling against them, points out that his words could be reasonably interpreted in more benign ways.
The song is not great (lyrics specifically) but the original verdict was a joke and this lawsuit was petty