Blurred Lines pair lose copyright appeal

LOS ANGELES — A U.S. federal appeals court has upheld a copyright infringement verdict against Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over the 2013 hit song Blurred Lines.

In a split decision from a three-judge panel, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday awarded $5.3 million US to the family of Marvin Gaye, who said Blurred Lines illegally copied from the late soul singer’s Got to Give it Up.

Two judges from the panel of three rejected the defence’s request to overturn the verdict or order a new trial.

Dissenting Judge Jacqueline Nguyen said the decision had allowed the Gaye family to copyright an entire musical style.

Howard King, a lawyer for Thicke and Williams, said he plans further appeals.

An email to the Gaye family’s lawyer, Richard Busch, did not get a response.