sign in sign up
<<
Home , Mike Will Made It, Throw Sum Mo

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2015

Pharrell warns of adverse effects after ‘Blurred Lines’ judgment

ou can’t own emotions,” singer Pharrell Williams has said in his first interview since losing the “Blurred Lines” copy- joins onstage at the Fader Fort Presented by Converse during the SXSW ‘Yright case. Williams warned the ruling could have a chill- Music Festival. — AP ing effect on creativity. “The verdict handicaps any creator out there who is making something that might be inspired by some- thing else,” Williams told the Financial Times. “This applies to fash- ion, music, design... anything. If we lose our freedom to be inspired we’re going to look up one day and the entertainment industry as Miley Cyrus surprises we know it will be frozen in litigation. This is about protecting the intellectual rights of people who have ideas.” A federal court in Los Angeles had ruled his song “Blurred Lines” infringed the copyright of Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” and ordered Williams and the singer Robin Thicke to pay damages of crowd at SXSW event $7.3 million to the Gaye estate. On Thursday, the Gaye family filed an injunction to stop the copying, distributing and performing of “Blurred Lines.” iley Cyrus surprised the full of water and confetti into the laborations with Pharrell, , Williams claimed “Blurred Lines” did not break copyright rules. audience Thursday during audience. Nelly, and ; “There was no infringement,” he said. “You can’t own feelings and Ma South by Southwest Cyrus sang - well, rapped - her and she also appeared on you can’t own emotions... there are only the notations and the pro- event featuring a slew of rappers, portion on the song “23,” Mike by Snoop Dogg and Will I Am. gression. Those were different.” He added: “Everything that’s including her producer Mike WiLL WiLL Made-It’s 2013 hit that also Mike WiLL Made-It, who has around you in a room was inspired by something or someone. If Made-It. Cyrus appeared to be the starred and . She worked with and you kill that, there’s no creativity.” Williams has attracted backing only woman on the stage, which also performed her anthemic “We and executive produced Cyrus’ from other entertainment industry figures. “The award seems to was packed with nearly 20 people Can’t Stop,” which Mike WiLL “,” was headlining the have been made on the mood of the song, which is extraordinary,” jumping up and down, left and Made-It produced. She also recited show. He was excited throughout Paul McGuinness, the former manager of U2, told the FT. right. Rappers including Future, Riff some of ’s part on Rae the set, and before he performed Producer Harvey Weinstein said the case could have an impact Raff, the duo and Sremmurd’s song “.” “23” - a song that references Air on Hollywood. “I’m very concerned about the notion that feeling the group Two-9 - who all also per- Since Cyrus marked a breakthrough Jordan sneakers - he said he would or having a piece of art that feels like something else can be formed - were onstage at The Fader with the hits “We Can’t Stop” and give sneakers away to the “most infringement,” he said. “Everyone quotes things, even subcon- Fort alongside Cyrus. Others “Wrecking Ball,” she has been sup- pumped person in the crowd.” sciously, but this can be a disruptive decision,” he added. “What ranged from hype men to camera- ported by rappers. The Grammy- Then he threw blue ones into the filmmaker couldn’t sue another filmmaker for making a movie that men to people shooting toy guns nominated “Bangerz” featured col- audience. —AP feels like another one? It’s deeply troubling.” — Reuters Maker of film on rapper sues its own star film company that is bringing the rapper Drake to the is being promoted as footage that had been feared lost. The that before the show Drake agreed to $15,000 along with 25 big screen has filed a lawsuit against its own star over company submitted a document to court that indicated percent of profits from merchandise sold at the concert and Aa tweet. Ahead of the release Thursday of the movie 15 percent of the film’s profits. It was unclear if the amount “Drake’s Homecoming: The Lost Footage,” the Canadian hip- was in US or Canadian dollars. The lawsuit said that Drake hop artist wrote on social media that he played no part in agreed to give SpectiCast the right to distribute the film making the film. “I feel it is my responsibility to inform and everywhere but Canada. protect my fans,” Drake wrote both to his 21.6 million The lawsuit alleges that Drake had raised no com- followers and on his Facebook page, which is liked plaints until several days ago, when he announced the by more than 36 million people. SpectiCast, the company lineup for his own label’s Ovo Fest in Toronto in August. that made the film, on Thursday announced a lawsuit in a “On information and belief, Drake’s secret motivation for California court that accused Drake of libel. publishing the damaging falsehoods about the film, and “Drake authorized the filming, he was paid for it, he still trying to destroy its commercial and artistic success, was has a financial stake in the movie, and his current state- to drive Drake’s fans to purchase tickets to his own Ovo ments to the contrary are completely false,” said Peter Fest,” the lawsuit said. Drake did not immediately respond Haviland, a lawyer for SpectiCast. The company is seeking to the lawsuit. SpectiCast said that the film was opening damages as well as a declaration that the film is authorized Thursday in 350 US theaters and hundreds more abroad. by Drake. The film covers a concert by Drake in his home- File photo shows recording artist Drake as he Last month, Drake released without warning “If You’re town Toronto in 2009, a year before he burst on the inter- arrives for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Reading This, It’s Too Late,” which debuted at number one national scene with his debut “Thank Me Later,” and Los Angeles. — AFP on the US charts. — AFP