7/23/2019 The Blurred Lines of Copyright Infringement in Music

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The “blurred lines” of copyright infringement in the music

industry

Copyright infringement in music has always been a grey area with intellectual

property experts, mostly because it is very hard to determine when the notes or

lyrics infringe on notes or lyrics from another song or songs. However, there areways to protect your music from the start, or to gain a later battle with someone

who has copied your work. Here are the most famous cases of lawsuits for

copyright infringement that were settled in or outside the court.

 The most famous, or rather infamous, case in recent years is denitely the

lawsuit against Robin Thicke and harell !illiams for their stellar hit "#lurred

$ines% from &'(). The family of *arvin +aye led a suit claiming Thicke stole

from +ayes -+ot to +ive t /p-, a hit from (011. The +aye estate has brought a

heap of evidence to the table, including an -expert report by musicologist 2udith

3inell detailing at least eight substantially similar compositional features-

between the two songs. 4fter two years, the 5ury found he two songwriters guilty

of copying *arvin +aye6s "+ot to +ive t /p,% released in (011, and ordered themto pay 71.) million of the song6s estimated 7(8 million in prots to +aye6s

children.

#ut, Thicke and !illiams are not the only ones accused of stealing someone

else6s intellectual work. 4 ennsylvania 5udge allowed a lawsuit to move forward

in the matter of band 9pirit versus the band $ed :eppelin. There is hardly anyone

on our planet who doesn6t know the opening ri; to $ed :eppelins (01( hit

-9tairway to Heaven.- lay it side<by<side with the (08= song -Taurus- by the

band 9pirit, and they sound similar. >ow it is for the court to decide.

?anilla ce became incredibly famous during the 0's, not because of his talent,

but because of the copyright infringement that occurred when it came to light

that he had sampled @ueen and Aavid #owie6s "/nder ressure% without consent

or license. This case never went to court as it was clear that ?anilla ce had stolen

the sample without permission. He settled out of court with @ueen and Aavid

#owie for an undisclosed, but very likely very high amount.

Here are some things you can do to ensure your music is safe and protected by

lawB

(. Ensure your work is properly marked  write a notice that will state

that the work is protected by law. Dxperts can help you word this notice.

&. Register your work   this provides veriable proof of the date andcontent of your work. Dxperts can help you register your work by your

country6s laws.). Keep supporting evidence  keep evidence of your progress and work

ideas, drafts, rough recordings, etc.

atent and trade mark agency *ihailovic can help you protect your copyrighted

music from being stolen and used without consent.

9ourceB httpsBEEwww.copyrightservice.co.ukEprotectE

httpBEEnews.yahoo.comEblurred<lines<F<other<popular<songs<sued<copyright<'8G=''1G=.html

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