Sony/ATV and Marvin Gaye’s family settle Blurred Lines lawsuit

One of the biggest hits of 2013 also spawned one of the biggest legal messes, with Blurred Lines artist Robin Thicke bringing pre-emptive litigation against the Marvin Gaye estate in response to whispers of copyright breach; Gaye’s family taking action against both Thicke and EMI in response; and publisher Sony/ATV being caught in the middle.

Now, reports Billboard, Gaye’s family and Sony/ATV have reached a settlement. The family claimed that Sony/ATV – who administer Gaye’s catalogue, and own EMI April, who administer Blurred Lines – breached an obligation to protect the work of Gaye against such copyright infringement.

The dispute surrounded the perceived similarities between the hit song and both Gaye’s Got To Give It Up, and Funkadelic’s track Sexy Ways. Bridgeport Music, publishers of the Funkadelic track, were also named in Thicke’s initial lawsuit.

The terms of the agreement are yet to be made public, but this result nicely removes Sony/ATV from the legal mess - handy for them, considering their involvement in administering both works.

The case is far from over; this is only the resolution of one element. Plus, the fact that Thicke’s Love After War is claimed to resemble Gaye’s After The Dance; his Make U Love Me echoes Gaye’s I Want You, and Million Dolla Baby is similar to Trouble Man, suggests a painfully drawn-out legal battle is ahead.