GayeÂs family had alleged in court that Williams and Thicke had taken critical elements from GayeÂs 1977 song ÂGot To Give It UpÂ, they argued that these elements had been incorporated into their 2013 hit ÂBlurred LinesÂ. A federal Jury in Los Angeles (U.S.), ruled that elements of GayeÂs song had indeed been copied and as such awarded GayeÂs family $7.4 million, this sum was later reduced $5.3 million.
Williams and Thicke have now filed an appeal the appeal is due to be heard in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rapper T.I. (also known as Clifford Harris Jr) will also be included in the appeal. T.I. featured in on the ÂBlurred Lines track. Originally the jury had ruled that T.I. was not liable for copyright infringement. GayeÂs family however filed a motion after the trial, asking the judge to hold T.I. liable too. In July the judge agreed with that assessment and accordingly ruled that T.I. was partially responsible for copyright infringement.
The Gaye family also asked the judge to block all sales and performances of the track until the family could negotiate how much they would make by way of royalties from the song. The judge ruled that the Gaye family could not block sales and performances of the track, and said that the Gaye family was entitled to 50 percent of all royalties made from ÂBlurred Lines in the future.
An attorney for the Gaye Family has commented that he remains Âconfident that the appeal will be without meritÂ.
