http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...roiled-the-music-industry-20150310-story.html
That they lost the case is not surprising to me, the reaction, however, seems rather extreme.
Apparently, the fact that the case was tried in front of a jury is big deal, I recall the George Harrison My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine case was decided by one judge. I'm not sure of the procedures involved in what mandates a jury as opposed to a single judge in copyright cases. I remember the judge in that case was a musician and had a good understanding of song structure and musical notation.
Pharell and Thicke apparently damaged their case severely with statements made months ago in which they spoke openly about "channeling Marvin Gaye" during the song's composition.
I would love to know how the settlement discussions went. I'll bet the plaintiff's thought they had such a strong case, that they were the ones holding out for the deal that the defendant's could not agree too. No way this case would have gotten to trial unless one party was throwing it's weight around.
Personally, when I first heard Blurred Lines, I assumed that the composers had simply sampled Gaye's Got to Give it Up the way many artists do these days. I assumed a deal had been struck with Gaye's publishers. Obviously, had I been on the jury I would have voted in favor of the Gayes.
The record company was held harmless which means they don't have to give up their cash. I would have thought defendant's would have wanted all or parts of all of the profits made from Blurred Lines, plus they are a deep pockets defendant. A little surprising.
That they lost the case is not surprising to me, the reaction, however, seems rather extreme.
Apparently, the fact that the case was tried in front of a jury is big deal, I recall the George Harrison My Sweet Lord/He's So Fine case was decided by one judge. I'm not sure of the procedures involved in what mandates a jury as opposed to a single judge in copyright cases. I remember the judge in that case was a musician and had a good understanding of song structure and musical notation.
Pharell and Thicke apparently damaged their case severely with statements made months ago in which they spoke openly about "channeling Marvin Gaye" during the song's composition.
I would love to know how the settlement discussions went. I'll bet the plaintiff's thought they had such a strong case, that they were the ones holding out for the deal that the defendant's could not agree too. No way this case would have gotten to trial unless one party was throwing it's weight around.
Personally, when I first heard Blurred Lines, I assumed that the composers had simply sampled Gaye's Got to Give it Up the way many artists do these days. I assumed a deal had been struck with Gaye's publishers. Obviously, had I been on the jury I would have voted in favor of the Gayes.
The record company was held harmless which means they don't have to give up their cash. I would have thought defendant's would have wanted all or parts of all of the profits made from Blurred Lines, plus they are a deep pockets defendant. A little surprising.
