Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams must pay up after a jury rules that they copied Marvin Gaye’s 1977 hit song “Got to Give It Up” to make their 2013 smash hit “Blurred Lines.”
The verdict was handed down Tuesday in Los Angeles and the Gaye family was awarded $7.3 million, according to reports. The jury heard testimony for over a week.
Controversy over “Blurred Lines” started when the song became dubbed the “Song of the Summer” in 2013. Many criticized Williams and Thicke for copying the beat from the late Motown singer’s song.
While the two denied any sound similarities, Williams and Thicke went on to make a reported $5 million from the hit. Gaye’s family filed a lawsuit citing copyright infringement.
“Blurred Lines” became a worldwide sensation peaking at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as well as topping the Billboard R&B Songs chart and the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks. The song sold over seven million copies and is Thicke’s most successful song to date.