Pharrell Reflects on ‘Blurred Lines’ Lawsuit Verdict: ‘You Can’t Copyright a Feeling’

Pharrell says his “feelings were hurt” over the Blurred Lines lawsuit that concluded in 2018 with Pharrell, who produced and co-wrote the song with Robin Thicke, paying Marvin Gaye’s family $5 million.

In an interview with iconic producer, Rick Rubin, Pharrell says “you can’t copyright a feeling.” Rubin agreed that the outcome of the lawsuit is “bad for music” because what makes a song is now in question.

“…it would be the chords, the melody, and the words…And your chords, your melody, and your words — none of them had anything to do [with the Gaye song] … It leaves us as music-makers in a really uncomfortable place making things because we don’t know what you can do,” says Rubin.

Although Pharrell says he would “never take anything from anyone” and says the lawsuit “set me back.” The “Happy” singer continues to do what he does best. He recently co-produced Beck’s new album, Hyperspace.