Date: 03-10-2015

Case Style: Pharrell Williams, et al. v. Bridgeport Music, Inc., et al.

Case Number: 2:13-cv-06004-JAK-AGR

Judge: John A. Kronstadt

Court: United States District Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: Howard King, Steve Rothschild and Seth Miller

Defendant's Attorney: Mark Block, Paul Duvall, Richard Busch, Sara Ellis, Paul Philips

Description: Los Angeles, CA - Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and Clifford Harris, Jr. sued Bridgeport Music, Inc., Frankie Christian Gaye, Marvine Gaye, III and Nona Marvisa Gaye on a declaratory judgment theory. The Defendants counterclaimed on a copyright violation theory claiming that Thicke and Williams wrongfully copied their father's music (Got to Give It Up) to create "Blurred Lines," the biggest hit song of 2013.

Blurred lines sold 7.3 million copies and Williams and Thicke each earned $7 million from the song. Williams claimed that he wrote the song in about an hour and denied that he copied Gaye's work.

The Defendants accused Thicke and Williams of lying about how the song was created.

Experts called to testify focused on analyses of chords and notes in both "Blurred Lines" and "Got to Give It Up."

Marvin Gaye died in 1984 leaving the ownership of the copyright to his children

Outcome: Defendants' verdict for $7.4 million.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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