Jonathan Altschul was featured in the Billboard Biz article "'Blurred Lines' Verdict: Music Lawyers Weigh In." Full text can be found in the March 11, 2015, issue, but a synopsis is below.
The "Blurred Lines" verdict, which ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams' megahit song was improperly drawn from Marvin Gaye's song "Got to Give It Up," has sent a ripple throughout the music industry.
"Concerns that this ruling will cause a chilling effect on the artistic community are probably overblown. This was not an instance of a madman coming out of the weeds and claiming infringement against a well-known artist. Marvin Gaye is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Robin Thicke had reportedly given damaging interviews stating that he wanted to write a song like 'Got to Give It Up.'" explained Jonathan Altschul. "As many practicing music attorneys have experienced, issues regarding the lines between inspiration, accidental influence and infringement arise from time to time and are usually settled based upon the opinions of a handful of well-respected musicologists,"
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
