(AllHipHop News) The legal fight between the family of R&B legend Marvin Gaye and Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams over the song “Blurred Lines” could be headed to trial. Billboard reports a U.S. District Judge ruled against Thicke and Williams’ motion for a summary judgment.
[ALSO READ: Robin Thicke Admits To Lying About Writing “Blurred Lines” & To Drug Use While Recording]
The musical collaborators filed a preemptive lawsuit in 2013 against the Gayes in order to prevent the family from suing over similarities between “Blurred Lines” and the soul singer’s “Got to Give It Up.” The family counter sued later that year.
Judge John Kronstadt ruled that Gaye’s family provided enough evidence that similarities between the two songs were close enough to move forward in the case. Kronstadt wrote, “[the Gaye family] have made a sufficient showing that elements of ‘Blurred Lines’ may be substantially similar to protected, original elements of ‘Got to Give It Up.’ Defendants have identified these with particularity for purposes of analytic dissection.”
The judge did add that the Gaye family has not proven that Thicke and Williams infringed on the copyright of the sheet music for “Got to Give It Up.” The result is that analysis of the similar sound recordings (ie backup vocals) on the respective songs may be restricted from the trial. A court date of February 10, 2015 has been set for the case.
[ALSO READ: Marvin Gaye Family Settles “Blurred Lines” Lawsuit With Sony/ATV]