One of the most controversial music stories of the year just got a bit more drama added to the fray: A U.S. federal judge has ruled that Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” won’t be going anywhere, denying Marvin Gaye’s family’s request for an injunction to block the sale and distribution of the song. The family will, however, still enjoy a 50 percent rate for future royalties on the song. In March, a jury found Thicke and Pharrell Williams liable for copyright infringement, awarding Gaye’s family $7.4 million in their verdict. U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt has now decided that Thicke and Pharrell won’t get the new trial they requested, but they will have to pay significantly less. The judge has reduced the jury’s original verdict to $5.3 million, with Pharrell now owing about $358,000 of his profits.
In his decision, the judge also agreed with Gaye’s family that both Thicke’s label, Universal Music Group, and the song’s featured artist, Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jr., are liable for copyright infringement, too. Both parties will now have to pay part of the reduced total of $3.2 million in damages to the Gaye family. In his first interview since the March verdict, Thicke maintained that he and Pharrell did not “steal” from Marvin Gaye. The case is now expected to move on to the appeals process.
