Marvin Gaye family wins ruling in ‘Blurred Lines’ case

The family for Marvin Gaye won a critical ruling Thursday in its copyright infringement lawsuit against pop stars Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams.

The ruling means the contentious legal dispute probably will head to a jury trial in February. Thicke and Williams pre-emptively sued the Gaye family, which says the duo stole from the hit song “Got To Give It Up” when they wrote the mega-hit “Blurred Lines.”

Thicke gave media interviews during which he said Gaye helped inspire “Blurred Lines,” but he said in depositions made public in September he was on drugs when he made those comments. The Gaye family is represented by prominent Nashville entertainment attorney Richard Busch.

Attorneys for Thicke and Williams filed a motion for summary judgment saying the Gaye family didn’t have legal grounds to move forward, but a judge denied that motion on Thursday in a federal court in Los Angeles. Now a jury will hear the case.

“Marvin Gaye’s ‘Got To Give It Up’ is iconic, and we believe the evidence of copying of this legend’s work is overwhelming,” Busch said. “The Gaye family and our entire team now look forward to the trial of this case.”

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and on Twitter @tnnaterau.