(AllHipHop News) Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams have lost their appeal to overturn a plagiarism verdict linked to their “Blurred Lines” hit.
Marvin Gaye’s heirs took the stars to court in 2015 after accusing them of copying their late father’s 1977 song “Got to Give It Up.”
They were awarded a massive $7.4 million verdict, but the figure was later reduced to $5.3 million.
Thicke and Williams appealed and now lawmakers have ruled the judgment against the pair should stand, with Judge Milan Smith insisting there was not “an absolute absence of evidence” of similarity between Gaye’s song and the 2013 hit.
The judges overseeing the appeal also agreed with the jury that rapper T.I. was not liable for infringement after contributing a verse to “Blurred Lines.”
As part of their appeal, Thicke and Williams’ lawyers argued a “groove” could not be copyrighted.
During the Los Angeles trial three years ago, the musicians denied the infringement allegations but openly admitted to being inspired by Gaye’s work.
The Gayes’ attorneys insisted the songwriters did not deserve the opportunity to appeal or try the case again.