Blurred Lines Trial: Marvin Gaye's Family Looking to Punish Labels, T.I.

The Marvin Gaye family are not satisfied with the $7.4 million settlement decision they just received from a jury over the unfair use of "Got to Give It Up" in Pharrell and Robin Thicke's 2013 summer hit "Blurred Lines." The family has filed new motions to hold T.I. -- real name Clifford Harris Jr. -- and the labels that distributed the track, Universal Music, Interscope and Star Trak Entertainment, responsible as well.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, there was a debate at the end of the trial about liability that has now spilled over into post-trial proceedings.

Richard Busch, the Gayes's lawyer, reckoned "by virtue of their participation in the creation, manufacture and distribution" the labels are culpable for the infraction as well.

According to their latest motion, they quoted the judge saying something similar.

"[I]f the jury finds there's infringement and if Universal distributed the recording, then according to what I heard [a lawyer for team Williams] say, they would be liable," said U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt.

This issue will not net the Gayes anymore money, but rather would help them with their injunction to stop the sale of "Blurred Lines."

"Some creative gymnastics will be required to justify any injunction against the owner and distributor of the song recording after they have been adjudicated not to be infringers," said Pharrell's lawyer Howard King after the verdict on a potential injunction against the song.

This trial is starting to drag on and is only getting uglier with every move by each side.

The trial verdict has reignited an international debate on where to draw the line between sampling, or getting inspiration from another artist, and plain theft. With music moving online and toward electronics, sampling has become a staple of certain artists's repertoires.

Thicke and Pharrell are appealing the initial decision now, but they are both bogged down in further lawsuits with the Gayes, who are looking to get more money out of the pair. The family will need to be careful that they don't turn the public and music community against them with frivolous lawsuits against every artist who was influenced by one of the greatest R&B/soul singers ever.

Tags

Pharrell, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke, T.I., Marvin Gaye