Jonathan Altschul was quoted in the Daily Journal article "Blurred Lines' Trial Outcome May be Affected by Key Judicial Decisions." Full text can be found in the March 9, 2015, issue, but a synopsis is below.
An eight-member jury began its first full day of deliberations in the high-profile dispute over whether the pop hit "Blurred Lines" ripped off Marvin Gaye's soul classic "Got To Give It Up."
Because the older song falls under the Copyright Act of 1909, Gaye's heirs have faced an uphill battle in court to prove their composition rights extend beyond the pages of simple notes, chords and suggested instrument solos the deceased artist submitted for registry more than 35 years ago.
Any production elements added in the studio that the two works may share were to be disregarded.
"To me it's sort of a problematic slippery slope," said Jonathan Altschul. "If a jazz player were to be recorded playing a well-known song of theirs live and then improvises a three-minute solo in the middle, are you telling me somebody thinks those improvised musical elements somehow aren't protected?"
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