Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 1 of 28 CA No. 15-56880 Nos. 16-55089 and 16-55626 (Consolidated) United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ___________________________________________ PHARRELL WILLIAMS, ET AL., Plaintiffs-Appellants v. FRANKIE CHRISTIAN GAYE, ET AL., Defendants-Appellees. ___________________________________________ Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Hon. John A. Kronstadt, District Judge Case No. CV-13-06004-JAK (AGRx) _____________________ BRIEF OF AMICI CURIAE 212 SONGWRITERS, COMPOSERS, MUSICIANS, AND PRODUCERS IN SUPPORT OF APPELLANTS _____________________ Edwin F. McPherson McPHERSON RANE LLP 1801 Century Park East 24th Floor Los Angeles, California 90067-2326 (310) 553-8833 [email protected] Attorneys for Amici Curiae Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 2 of 28 This Brief Is Filed On Behalf Of The Following Songwriters, Composers, Musicians, And Producers (Affiliations Are Listed For Identification Purposes Only): Harvey Mason Jr. Manny Marroquin Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy) Phillip Bailey Klaus Derendorf Verdine White Patrick Monahan Ralph Johnson Jimmy Douglass (Train) (Earth, Wind & Fire) Katharine McPhee Tim James Hans Zimmer Stephen Bishop Jake Sinclair Belinda Carlisle Charlotte Caffey Chip Taylor Adam Anders Jane Wiedlin Gina Schock L. Russell Brown Brett James (The Go-Go’s) John Oates Lindy Robbins R. Kelly (Hall & Oates) Jonas Jeberg Mike Shinoda Maynard James Chester Bennington Keenan Sam Martin Brad Delson Danny Carey Rob Bourdon Justin Chancellor Peter Wade Keusch Joe Hahn (Tool) Dave Farrell Tor Hermansen (Linkin Park) Matt Serletic Mikkel Eriksen (Stargate prod. team) Jason Mraz Dean Serletic Toby Gad Jennifer Hudson Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Allan P. Grigg Rivers Cuomo Thunderbirds) (p/k/a KoOoLkOjAk) (Weezer) Rich Robinson Matt Beckley Brian Burton (The Black Crowes) (p/k/a Danger Mouse) Hugh Prestwood Busbee Rick Nowels Ross Golan i Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 3 of 28 Matty Karas Darrell Brown Max Frost George Astasio Serban Ghenea Brian Higgins John Shave Jason Pebworth Savan Kotecha Andrew Gould (Writers of Fancy/ The Invisible Men) Julian Bunetta Leah Pringle Jeff Trott Matt Wertz Dan James Jordan Michael Keith Follese Laurel Stearns Houston (p/k/a Juicy J) (Three 6 Mafia) Augie Ray Dustin Franks Dennis McCarthy Wayne Kirkpatrick Marc Beeson Curt Smith Sean Douglas Nicolle Galyon (Tears for Fears) Martin Johnson Jerry Flowers Mark Kendall Michael Lardie Simon Katz Martin Gerald Derstine Audie Desbrow (p/k/a J.D. Martin) (Great White) Kiesa Rae Ellestad (p/k/a Kiesza) Jamie Houston Mark Lennon (Venice) Sam Farrar Rune Westberg Rikki Rockett Mat Kearney Kris Allen (Poison) James Bourne Shane Minor Greg Camp Will Hoge Shane McAnally Scott Crago Nick Phoenix Aloe Blacc Jonathan Daniel Sammy Geronco Bonnie McKee Josh Alexander Kevin Griffin Jay DeMarcus Jon Nite Clarence Coffee, Jr. Kenna Zemedkun ii Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 4 of 28 Marius Moga David Hodges Aaron Jennings (p/k/a Lil Aaron) George Acogny Anthony Hannides Rob Kleiner Guy Langley Harmony Samuels Robert Howard Hartry Will Robinson Rob Shirakbari David Mantel Wendell Mobley Phil Shaouy Josh Soon Carlos Menendez Ben Gordon Aden Forte (Feenixpawl) James Ryan Ho Ben Glover (p/k/a Malay) Maor Levi Oak Felder Kevin Wild Dave Schiffman Bruce Karlsson Nolan Lambroza Elias Ghosn Eric Lumiere (p/k/a Sir Nolan) (Bad Royale) Josh Coleman Tushar Apte Sam Klempner (p/k/a Ammo) Fancy Hagood Bob Marlette Marty James Garton Jr. Stuart Crichton Iris Dillon Brian Kehew Mark Beaven Laura Lockie Tim Myers Charlie Feldman Bruce McDonald David Waxman Nash Overstreet Tommy Danvers Mojoe Nicosia (Hot Chelle Rae) Jon Pikus Roland Beelen Jackson Morgan Dave Way Nate Cyphert Jamie Hartman Doug Naugler Garth Richardson Greyson Chance Todd Wilkinson Tom Hiel Maegan Cottone Loren Haynes iii Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 5 of 28 Ryan Buendia Emanuel Kiriakou Mark Holding Jean Baptiste Michelle Orford-Klock Nick Jarjour Alex Oldroyd Donnie Graves Nick Raphael Peter Lloyd Alex H.N Gilbert Danielle Brisebois Michelle Lewis Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. Pam Sheyne Spring Aspers Jean-Marc Lederman Jud Friedman Mike Simpson (Dust Brothers) Evan Taubenfeld Josh Briggs Henrik Linder Jonah Nilsson Darren Lewis (Dirty Loops) Mark James Alexander DeLeon (The Cab) John Woolf Jarrad Rogers Gerry Gerrard Matt Nathanson Jeff Fenster Butch Walker Tina Jennings Evan Bogart Sam Watters Max Schneider Nicole Powers (p/k/a MAX) Jennifer Linley Taylor Lauren Pritchard (p/k/a Lolo) Sally Kleinbart Shane Minor iv Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 6 of 28 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 29(c)(5). 1 II. CONSENT OF THE PARTIES. 1 III. INTEREST OF THE AMICI CURIAE. 1 IV. INTRODUCTION.. 2 V. ARGUMENT. 3 A. THE DISTRICT COURT’S DENIAL OF SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND THE SUBSEQUENT JURY TRIAL.. 3 B. MARVIN GAYE’S OWN PUBLISHER BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS NO INFRINGEMENT, AND REFUSED TO SUE.. 6 C. BECAUSE THE MELODIES OF THE TWO SONGS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, APPELLANTS HAVE BEEN HELD LIABLE ESSENTIALLY FOR INFRINGING AN IDEA, WHICH IS NOT COPYRIGHTABLE... 7 D. ALL MUSIC IS INSPIRED BY OTHER MUSIC.. 9 E. THERE IS A BRIGHT LINE TEST IN FILM, TELEVISION, AND BOOK COPYRIGHT CASES THAT DOES NOT, AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, EXIST IN MUSIC CASES.. 10 F. COPYRIGHT LAW SHOULD PROTECT ORIGINAL MUSIC, WITHOUT STIFLING CREATIVITY.. 13 G. COPYRIGHT LAW SHOULD NOT INHIBIT SONGWRITERS FROM CELEBRATING THEIR INFLUENCES.. 15 v Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 7 of 28 VI. CONCLUSION. 16 VII. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE. 18 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE. 19 vi Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 8 of 28 TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Cases Page Darrell v. Joe Morris Music Co., 113 F.2d 80 (2nd Cir. 1940). 12 Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc., 510 U.S. 517 (1994). 14 Gaste v. Kaiserman, 863 F.2d 1061 (2nd Cir. 1988). 11 Twentieth Century Music Corp. v. Aiken, 422 U.S. 151 (1975). 13 Other Authorities About Elvis Presley, www.elvis.com, http://www.elvis.com/about/bio.. 9 Artist Influences for Elton John, www.mtv.com, http://www.mtv.com/artists/elton-john/related-artists/?filter=influencedBy .. 9 David Bowie Lists His Musical Influences in Berklee Commencement Address: Watch, BILLBOARD, (January 12, 2016), http://www.billboard.com/ articles/news/6836617/david-bowie-lists-his-musical-influences-in-berklee- commencement-address-watch. 9 E. Michael Harrington, Good News for Robin, Katy & One Direction: Music Copyright Expert Says Nobody’s Ripping Off Anybody, www.emichaelmusic.com/good-news-for-robin-katy-one-direction-music- copyright-expert-says-nobodys-ripping-off-anybody/. 14 G. Betts, Motown Encyclopedia (2014). 10 Influences on Marvin Gaye, shmoop.com, http://www.shmoop.com/whats-going-on/influences.html . 9 vii Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 9 of 28 J. Jenkins, The “Blurred Lines” of the Law, www.web.law.duke.edu/cspd/blurredlines/ .. 13 Lady Gaga and the Glam Rock Men Who Inspire Her, mic.com, (November 14, 2013), https://mic.com/articles/73263/lady-gaga-and-the-glam- rock-men-who-inspire-her . 9 P. Higgins, Copyright Mixtape: How The ‘Blurred Lines’ Lawsuit Could Change Music Forever, http://ratter.com/ratter/all/archive/213510.. 15 P. Alhadeff and S. Cheong, The Lesson of Blurred Lines, Berklee College of Music, Music Business Journal, http://www.thembj.org2016/01/ . 14 R. Mendelsohn, Will the “Blurred Lines” Decision Stifle Creativity?, http://blogtrans.megatrax.com/will-the-blurred-lines-decision-stifle- creativity/. 15 The Beatles, Influences and Music, City Portal Liverpool, http://www.liverpoolcityportal.co.uk/beatles/beatles_influences.html.. 9 viii Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 10 of 28 I. STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 29(c)(5) Counsel for the parties did not author this brief. The parties have not contributed any money that was intended to fund the preparation or submission of the brief. No persons other than amici curiae or their counsel contributed money that was intended to fund the preparation or submission of the brief. II. CONSENT OF THE PARTIES Counsel for the parties have consented to the filing of this brief. III. INTEREST OF THE AMICI CURIAE Amici represent songwriters, composers, musicians, and producers from the United States and other countries who create music in many different genres that is protected under U.S. copyright law. That music entertains and enriches the lives of countless people, in the United States and around the world. Amici and the professionals that they represent will therefore undoubtedly be affected by, and consequently have a significant interest in, the outcome of this critically important case. 1 Case: 15-56880, 08/30/2016, ID: 10106466, DktEntry: 22, Page 11 of 28 IV. INTRODUCTION Amici are concerned about the potential adverse impact on their own creativity, on the creativity of future artists, and on the music industry in general, if the judgment in this case is allowed to stand. The verdict in this case threatens to punish songwriters for creating new music that is inspired by prior works. All music shares inspiration from prior musical works, especially within a particular musical genre. By eliminating any meaningful standard for drawing the line between permissible inspiration and unlawful copying, the judgment is certain to stifle creativity and impede the creative process. The law should provide clearer rules so that songwriters can know when the line is crossed, or at least where the line is. In typical music copyright cases – at least successful ones – the two works share the same (or at least similar) sequence of pitches, with the same (or at least similar) rhythms, set to the same chords.