Marvin Gaye's Family Seeking to Block Distribution of 'Blurred Lines'

Meanwhile, Pharrell Williams slams the infringement verdict.

ByABC News
March 19, 2015, 12:01 PM

— -- You may have heard the last of "Blurred Lines."

The family of Marvin Gaye filed an injunction on Tuesday to prevent copying, distributing and performing the hit song, Richard S. Busch, the family's lawyer, confirmed to ABC News.

"The trial in this action only included revenue from past sales of 'Blurred Lines.' The Gaye family is requesting an injunction so that the parties have time to negotiate how their father will be credited and how future sales will be shared," Busch explained.

"This type of relief is authorized by the Copyright Act and we believe is neither controversial nor unusual once a determination of infringement has been made," Busch added. "That is because, without an injunction, the infringing product continues to be sold and the party whose work has been infringed is not receiving appropriate credit for their contribution, is not receiving a share of the copyright, and is not participating in the revenue from those sales. We would hope that an agreement will be reached so that, if the court decides to issue an injunction, it would then be lifted by agreement."

In a statement to the Associated Press, the Gaye family added: "With the digital age upon us, the threat of greater infringement looms for every artist. It is our wish that our dad's legacy, and all great music, past, present, and future, be enjoyed and protected, with the knowledge that adhering to copyright standards assures our musical treasures will always be valued."

A jury ruled earlier this month that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied parts of Gaye's song "Got to Give It Up" for "Blurred Lines," and awarded the late singer's family approximately $7.4 million in damages. The jury ruled Clifford Harris, the rapper known as T.I. who performed on "Blurred Lines" and received a co-songwriting credit, did not infringe on the Gaye copyright.

However, according to the AP report, Gaye's family also sought Tuesday to change the verdict to include T.I., as well as Universal Music, Interscope Records and Star Trak Entertainment.

Williams spoke to the Financial Times, though he would not comment on whether he and Thicke will appeal the verdict, saying only, "We're working out our next steps." However, he insisted that there was no infringement in the making of "Blurred Lines," and worried that this verdict could permanently damage the entertainment industry.

“Everything that’s around you in a room was inspired by something or someone,” he said. “If you kill that, there’s no creativity.”