Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/stolen-melodies-7-massive-hits-that-were-caught-up-in-messy-plagiarism-lawsuits/
Music copyright law has always lived in uncomfortable territory. With only twelve notes available in Western music, it’s almost inevitable that some degree of copying will occur across the millions of songs released every year. That mathematical reality doesn’t make the legal battles any less brutal, though.
Music plagiarism disputes occur when a song is accused of infringing upon the copyright of another by substantially copying protected elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, or lyrics without authorization. Courts typically apply the “substantial similarity” test, assessing infringement based on both ordinary listener perception and expert analysis of musical components. The cases below show just how complicated, expensive, and career-defining these disputes can get.
“Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke ft. Pharrell Williams – vs. Marvin Gaye’s Estate
Few music lawsuits have rattled the industry quite like this one. Robin Thicke’s collaboration with Pharrell Williams and T.I. gathered unwelcome attention when the family of Marvin Gaye claimed that the track sounded similar to the soul legend’s 1977 hit “Got to Give It Up.” The crux of the claim was something harder to define than a copied melody: the plaintiffs argued that Thicke and Williams had essentially stolen the song’s “feel.”
In August 2013, Robin Thicke and…
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-07-09 09:32:00
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