Although a jury found Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams guilty of copying Marvin Gaye‘s “Got to Give It Up,” Williams is still adamant that there wasn’t any copyright infringement. “There was no infringement. You can’t own feelings and you can’t own emotions [in relation to music] there are only the notations and the progression. Those were different, “the producer told the Financial Times.
Williams believes the verdict affects all artists and producers, and it also sends a very bad message to all creative people. “[The verdict] handicaps any creator out there who is making something that might be inspired by something else. This applies to fashion, music, design, anything,” the producer stated. He continued, “If we lose our freedom to be inspired we’re going to look up one day and the entertainment industry as we know it will be frozen in litigation.”
Pharrell Williams vehemently stated the intellectual rights of the people must be protected. He said that everyone draws inspiration from someone and something, and if the people’s rights are taken away, it will kill creativity. The producer didn’t give a definitive answer to whether the verdict will be appealed, but Williams did say they [legal team] are working out the next steps now.
Super producer Jermaine Dupri recently weighed in on the “Blurred Lines” verdict. Dupri said he immediately heard the similarities between Thicke’s song and Gaye’s 1977 hit record. The producer stated that both sides had a very strong case, and the verdict could have favored either side. Dupri said that most producers draw inspiration from other records, and it’s an extremely popular practice amongst young producers. “Hip hop always has some kind of element of something from the past. Sometimes we just take the entire sample and we give the artist the credit for that sample,” Dupri told The Associated Press.
Dupri said he understands what the Gaye family went through, in regards to believing Marvin Gaye’s music was copied unlawfully. The producer revealed he believes Usher’s “U Got It Bad,” which Dupri produced, was completely “ripped off” by Ciara’s “I Bet.” The producer stated he contacted Ciara and the producers of the single, in an attempt to realize the matter. Dupri did reiterate that he understands drawing inspiration from a song, but he believes “I Bet” is a carbon copy of “U Got It Bad.”
FDRMX Eyes: Larz Randa is a young hip-hop artist from New Zealand. The rapper has recently released a music video called “Rangers.”
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