Countersuit Claims That Robin Thicke Has a Costly ‘Marvin Gaye Fixation’

The battle over one of the summer's biggest summer hits is getting nasty.

By Jamilah King Oct 31, 2013

The battle between Marvin Gaye’s estate and Robin Thicke is getting worse. Thicke, along with Pharrel and T.I., had a massive summer hit with the song "Blurred Lines," but many listeners noticed the song’s striking similarities to Gaye’s 1978 song "Got to Give It Up." Those listeners included Gaye’s estate. In what seemed like a strange move, Thicke and company pre-emptively sued the estate to protect their hit.

In a counterclaim, Gaye’s estate alleges that Thicke stole the summer hit and also committed copyright infringement on the late singer’s "After the Dance" to create his 2011 track "Love After War." In legal papers obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, Gaye’s estate allges that Thicke’s "Marvin Gaye fixation" extends even further into the 36-year-old’s discography.

What’s more, Gaye’s estate alleges that "Blurred Lines’" publisher EMI is desperate to salvage its massive summer hit. 

According to the counterclaims, EMI has breached a contract and its fiduciary duty by failing to protect Gaye’s songs, attempting to intimidate the family against filing any legal action, failing to remain neutral when faced with a conflict of interest and attempting to turn public opinion against the family. The penalty for those acts, says the Gaye family, should be that EMI loses all profits on "Blurred Lines" as well as rights to administer thesong catalog of Gaye, known as the "Prince of Soul."

You be the judge:

Robin Thicke, "Blurred Lines" 2013

Marvin Gaye, "Got to Give It Up" (1978)

Marvin Gaye, "After the Dance" (1978)

Robin Thicke, "Love After War" (2011)