Pharrell Williams, the produced behind 2013’s biggest hit “Blurred Lines,” has been vocal about the federal court decision to share $7.3 million worth of royalties to Marvin Gaye’s family, having called it a “sad day for creativity.” Williams argues it threatens the work of all creatives in all fields including musicians, designers, and artists.
In a recent interview with the Financial Times, he elaborates on his feelings about it all. "The verdict handicaps any creator out there who is making something that might be inspired by something else," Williams told the publication. "This applies to fashion, music, design … anything. 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. This is about protecting the intellectual rights of people who have ideas."
In the interview, Pharrell explains “Blurred Lines” was a feeling inspired by the emotions he “channeled” from the vibes of Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit “Got To Give It Up.” "You can’t own feelings and you can’t own emotions," he told FT. Williams added, "Everything that’s around you in a room was inspired by something or someone … If you kill that, there’s no creativity."
Producer Harvey Weinstein added to the FT story that Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein would never have existed if it was legal to sue over creative work that "feels" like another.
Williams’ and Thicke’s lawyer, Howard E. King, insinuated the verdict will be challenged, telling the Fox Business Network earlier this month, “We are going to exercise every post-trial remedy we have to make sure this verdict does not stand. We owe it to songwriters around the world to make sure this verdict doesn’t stand.
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