Never mind what the jury said — Robin Thicke still maintains he’s not a crook.
More than three months after a jury handed down a stunning $7.4 million verdict in a copyright infringement case over his song “Blurred Lines,” Thicke insists that he didn’t swipe the song from the 1977 Marvin Gaye song “Got to Give It Up.”
“I know the difference between inspiration and theft,” Thicke, who’s currently seeking a new trial in the case, told the New York Times in an interview published Wednesday. “I’m constantly inspired, but I would never steal. And neither would
Thicke added that he hasn’t altered the way he writes songs as a result of the verdict, but cautioned that, if it stands, the ruling could create a “ripple effect” in the artistic community.
“For me, it will not, it has not, changed my process in any way. But yes, many artists and writers have voiced their concerns to me about this,” Thicke offered. “And if the verdict holds up, I believe that it will have a ripple effect on the arts and the industry in general. I mean, if you made the first superhero movie, do you own the concept of the superhero?”
Thicke may claim that his songwriting process hasn’t changed, but the singer’s new single, “Morning Sun,” contains a co-writing credit for Barry White — an addition in which Thicke acknowledged that the verdict played a part.
“I know I have a target on my back, and my team wanted to be extra cautious given the past year,” Thicke noted. “And until the court decides on inspiration and ‘feel’ in music, I wanted to make sure I would never be in a difficult situation with one of my idols ever again.”
In March, a jury found that Thicke and Williams had borrowed heavily from the tune, determining that the infringement was not willful, but also not innocent.
The jury awarded Marvin Gaye’s family $4 million in damages, with profits of more than $1,600,000 from Williams and more than $1,760,099 from Thicke. Statutory damages of $9,375 were assessed.