Marvin Gaye Family Sues Robin Thicke, Pharrell Williams For Copyright Infringement

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The family of late R&B singer MARVIN GAYE has sued ROBIN THICKE and PHARRELL WILLIAMS for copyright infringement, alleging that they stole from a 1977 GAYE composition, "Got to Give it Up," to create the hit single "Blurred Lines," REUTERS reports. The suit is a counter-claim to an AUGUST preemptive suit brought by THICKE and WILLIAMS, which argued for a court ruling to establish that "Blurred Lines" did not infringe on GAYE's hit.

The suit by three of GAYE's children cited excerpts of magazine interviews given by THICKE to support their contention that he had admitted to drawing on "Got to Give it Up" when producing and recording "Blurred Lines." They also allege that THICKE's 2011 song, "Love After War," amounted to "unlawful copying" of GAYE's 1976 song "After the Dance."

The suit further accuses EMI, which also happens to manage the copyrights for GAYE's music, of breach of contract and trust agreements.

The family is seeking damages of up to $150,000 per infringement as well as a portion of the profits from the success of "Blurred Lines" and "Love After War."

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