The "Blurred Lines" case could have a chilling effect
Borrowing, sampling, covering and other appropriation are commonplace among musicians, but an LA jury ruled Monday that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams took things too far with their monster hit “Blurred Lines.” The court ruled the pair’s track was a little too inspired by Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up,” and awarded Gaye’s family about $7.4 million for copyright infringement.
The verdict could put artists more on notice when appropriating other tracks, says George Washington University Law Professor Robert Brauneis, who helps us unpack the complexities of the case.
Listen to the full conversation in the audio player above.
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