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# “Blurred Lines” Decision Could Be Overturned On Appeal
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/blurred-lines-decision-could-be-overturned-on-appeal/
- Published: 2015-03-11T14:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2015-03-11T14:00:00.000Z
- Description: "The genre or musical style of a song is not protectable under copyright law – the lyrics and the melody are, but that was not the allegation in this case."
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Music Business, Songwriting & Music Publishing, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:28

[![Robin-thicke-blurred-lines-music-video](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d0e91787970c-150wi "Robin-thicke-blurred-lines-music-video")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d0e91787970c-popup?ref=hypebot.com)"The genre or **musical style of a song is not protectable under [copyright law](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright?ref=hypebot.com "Copyright")** – the lyrics and the melody are, but that was not the allegation in this case."

*Guest Post by *Wallace Collins* on [Entertainment Industry Law Issues](http://wallacecollinsentertainmentlawblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/blurred-lines-decision-could-be.html?ref=hypebot.com)*As a copyright lawyer, **it is my opinion that this decision will be overturned on appeal.** The genre or musical style of a song is not protectable under copyright law – the lyrics and the melody are, but that was not the allegation in this case. The claim here was that defendants copied the style of the [Marvin Gaye](http://www.last.fm/music/Marvin%2BGaye?ref=hypebot.com) song, and **I do not believe that the jury's decision would be upheld on appeal as a matter of copyright law** (although a jury might not understand that concept).

[![Copyright-trademark-logo](http://a0.typepad.com/6a016766638dee970b01b7c75fb2a8970b-150wi "Copyright-trademark-logo")](http://a0.typepad.com/6a016766638dee970b01b7c75fb2a8970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)

****To date, this is the only [copyright infringement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright%5Finfringement?ref=hypebot.com) lawsuit ever in which no melody, harmony, rhythm or lyrics were copied. The "that songs reminds me of another song" threshold would be a new legal standard. If this is the new threshold for copyright infringement, a lot of modern artists (like Bruno Mars) and 60s British artists (from the Beatles to Led Zepplin) could be in trouble!**See case info here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/10/jury-verdit-blurred-lines\_n\_6842732.html**Wallace Collins** is an entertainment and intellectual property lawyer based in New York with more than 30 years of experience. He was a recording artist for [Epic Records](http://www.epicrecords.com/?ref=hypebot.com) before receiving his law degree from Fordham Law School. Tel: (212) 661-3656; [www.wallacecollins.com](http://www.wallacecollins.com/?ref=hypebot.com)