Pharrell Williams believes the result of the ‘Blurred Lines’ trial "handicaps" creative people.
The song’s co-creator, along with singer Robin Thicke, were ordered to pay $7.3 million (£4.9 million) to Marvin Gaye’s estate for similarities based on inspiration, which is something the 41-year-old star says means artists have lost their "freedom to be inspired".
Speaking for the first time since the verdict was revealed, he said: "The verdict handicaps any creator out there who is making something that might be inspired by something else.
"This applies to fashion, music, design … anything. If we lose our freedom to be inspired, we’re going to look up one day and the entertainment industry as we know it will be frozen in litigation. This is about protecting the intellectual rights of people who have ideas."
"Everything that’s around you in a room was inspired by something or someone.
"If you kill that, there’s no creativity."
Despite the ruling – which claimed there were distinct similarities between the track and Marvin’s 1977 hit ‘Got to Give It Up’ – the ‘Happy’ hitmaker has insisted neither himself or Robin did anything wrong.
He continued: "There was no infringement.
"You can’t own feelings and you can’t own emotions . . .[in music] there are only the notations and the progression … Those were different."
However, the musician – who is married to model Helen Lasichanh – revealed they have not yet decided whether to appeal against the verdict.
He told The Financial Times newspaper: "We’re working out our next steps right now."
Pharrell Williams slams Blurred Lines trial verdict
