Linkin Park, Tool, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo Support 'Blurred Lines' Appeal

Linkin Park, Tool, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo Support ‘Blurred Lines’ Appeal

2016-09-12

Story by Cat Badra

A collection of artists have signed a brief in support of the ‘Blurred Lines’ appeal

More than 200 musicians and artists have given their signatures to a “friend of the court” brief in support of Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke’s appeal of the “Blurred Lines” copyright infringement verdict, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

A good cross-section of rockers are among the names on the brief, including Tool, Linkin Park, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, members of Poison, members of Great White, Brian Burton of Broken Bells and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes.

The brief is in an effort to warn of possible side-effects the “Blurred Lines” verdict may produce. The verdict ruled that Williams and Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” infringed the copyright of the 1977 Marvin Gaye chart-topper “Got to Give It Up.”

“The verdict in this case threatens to punish songwriters for creating new music that is inspired by prior works,” the brief’s introduction reads, authored by attorney Ed McPherson. “All music shares inspiration from prior musical works, especially within a particular musical genre. By eliminating any meaningful standard for drawing the line between permissible inspiration and unlawful copying, the judgment is certain to stifle creativity and impede the creative process.”

The “Blurred Lines” verdict awarded the Gaye family $7.4 million. That original verdict was later dropped to $5.3 million.

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Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.