Robin Thicke. (Reuters)
LOS ANGELES | Family of late soul singer Marvin Gaye sued R&B recording artists Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for copyright infringement on Wednesday, accusing them of stealing from the Motown legend’s musical composition for the hit single “Blurred Lines.”
The suit was filed as a counter-claim to a case brought preemptively by Thicke and Williams in August seeking a court ruling to establish that “Blurred Lines” did not infringe on Gaye’s rights to his 1977 hit, “Got to Give it Up,” as members of his family had said publicly.
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.”
Thicke sang the raunchy, percussive R&B song, which topped song charts around the world this year and ranked as the biggest U.S. pop hit of the summer, at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards in a provocative performance featuring pop singer Miley Cyrus.
Gaye’s daughter, Nona Marvisa Gaye, and his sons Frankie Christian Gaye and Marvin Gaye III also said in the suit that Thicke’s 2011 song “Love After War” amounted to “unlawful copying” of Gaye’s 1976 song “After the Dance.”
Their lawsuit also named Thicke’s wife, actress Paula Patton, who collaborated with her husband on “Love After War,” along with Interscope Records, Universal Music Group Recordings and Sony/ATV Music, among others.
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.”
Freddie Aguilar on the hot seat of the TV5 program 'Face the People'.
After admitting to just about everything about his relationship with his 16-year-old girlfriend, Freddie Aguilar is now ready not only to face the music on the qualified seduction charge filed against him recently but also to literally “Face The People” in an upcoming episode of the show airing on November 4.
Early this week, Ka Freddie, 60, was very firm in admitting to “Good Morning Girls” Cheryl Cosim, Twink Macaraig, Shawn Yao and Tuesday Vargas that he has sexual relations with his girlfriend who he simply refers to as “Jovy”.
“I would be a hypocrite if I tell you no, we don’t. That’s hypocrisy. That’s something we should get rid of in this country,” he said.
Now, Ka Freddie finds himself on the show’s hot seat dubbed as “silya ng konsensya”, ready to answer more questions about him and Jovy. The one hundred or so people in the audience are also more than ready to express their strong opinions on their relationship that will be reflected on the show’s Opinion Meter.
Among the other highlights of the much-awaited “Face The People” episode will be a face-to-face encounter between the legendary folk singer and his girlfriend’s mother. There’s also a heated exchange between Ka Freddie and entertainment columnist Joey Sarmiento who disapproves of the former’s May-December affair.
Ka Freddie defends himself against detractors on the show, which will air on Monday, Nov. 4.
Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles will also give her insights on the “qualified seduction” case faced by the popular music icon. The show ends with hosts Gelli De Belen and Tintin Bersola-Babao asking Ka Freddie to decide on whether or not he intends to continue with his much talked about relationship.
Meanwhile, Ka Freddie’s sister, art patron and book author Marlene Aguilar has posted her thoughts on her brother’s relationship on her Facebook page which she said she has posted before.
“Do I agree with Freddie Aguilar’s decision? No. However, I have no right to dictate upon him whom he should love. Actually, I have no right to dictate upon anyone how they should handle their own love affairs. Ultimately, it’s my brother life so it’s really none of my business. Thank you,” posted Marlene on her Facebook last October 28.
No stranger to controversy herself, Marlene made headlines in 2010 when she vigorously came to the defense her son, former actor Jason Ivler who was suspected of killing the son of presidential chief of staff undersecretary Renato Ebarle Sr. The case is still pending in court while Jason remains detained at the Quezon City Jail.
“Face The People” airs weekdays at 4:30PM on TV5.
