Marvin Gaye’s Family Wants T.I. Added to ‘Blurred Lines’ Ruling

Marvin Gaye’s relatives have filed new legal paperwork asking a judge to hold rapper T.I. accountable for copyright infringement in the “Blurred Lines” case.

Earlier this month, a jury ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams had copied elements of Gaye’s track “Got to Give It Up” for their 2013 chart hit and they were ordered to pay $7.3 million.

The jury had earlier decided that the pair’s collaborator, rapper T.I., was not accountable because his verse in Blurred Lines had been added into the track after Thicke and Williams had written and recorded the song.

However, the Gaye family’s lawyer, Richard Busch, filed a motion on Tuesday asking a judge to amend the jury verdict to include T.I., real name Clifford Harris, Jr., as well as Interscope Records and Universal Music, claiming they are all liable for copyright infringement.

The motion, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, reads, “As a matter of law, all members of the distribution chain are liable for copyright infringement, including co-writer of the song Blurred Lines, Clifford Harris, Jr. and the Interscope Parties… accordingly, the Gayes’ request that the Court amend the jury’s verdict to impose liability… on Clifford Harris, Jr. and the Interscope Parties, for their infringement of the musical composition Got to Give it Up.”

Thicke and Williams plan to contest the ruling, while Gaye’s heirs are hoping to halt future sales of “Blurred Lines” until a new royalty payment scheme has been negotiated.

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