I like Marvin too, and i agree that the Soul Train clip showed a song that was WAY beneath his talents as a songwriter, but the new song sounded so much like it (to me, anyway) that I can understand the Judge’s ruling. I didn’t know either song until I played the clips, so i had no previous opinion about either of them.
“My Sweet Lord” was a better sounding song than “He’s So Fine”, and i doubt if George had ever heard the other song, but the ruling in that case was based upon the “6-note rule” which was in effect many years ago.
There is actually a legal precedent for this. If more than six notes match in rhythm and interval, it’s considered a copy. Just six notes is all it takes.
So...somewhere, those six notes matched up. I know. it doesn’t seem fair at all...especially with the size of the award.
Just like the recent ruling on Sam Smith’s Stay With Me, which copied a melody from Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
Blurred Lines is a 100X better song... This is a travesty.
I’m no lawyer. I don’t claim to know all the legal issues. But, I know music. If THIS is an infringement? Get ready for a WHOLE BUNCH MORE lawsuits..
I simply cannot believe this..
“i doubt if George had ever heard the other song,”
I’m sure he must have heard it sometime. It was a pretty big hit. And I love George Harrison and both those songs. “He’s so fine” is really one of my super faves.
I’ve never known what to think about that ruling. I don’t think I would have found against Harrison, but I do hear the similarities.
I’ve told this story before here, but what the heck. I once had a strange dream that I was going to marry George Harrison, don’t know why he was never a crush. But in the dream I knew, just KNEW, that I was marrying the nicest man in the world. I always felt very fondly towards him after that.
After the trial Harrison said “it’s the same chords but not the same song.”