Summary: A federal jury decided last week that the hit song “Blurred Lines” was improperly derived from Marvin Gaye’s 1977 classic “Got to Give It Up” and ordered songwriters Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams to Pay $7.4 Million for copyright infringement. Though the verdict was a surprise, <a title="Eriq Gardner on Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/eriqgardner" target="_blank">Eriq Gardner</a>, a senior editor for The Hollywood Reporter, tells us it may not have the wide ranging implications for the music industry everyone now predicts.<br> Gardner explains some of the legal positions taken by both sides in the case. Usually for a copyright lawsuit to be successful the melody, harmony or lyrics must be infringed upon, though in this instance it was extended to include the style and “vibe” of the work. What will this mean for songwriters in the future?<br> Meanwhile, the MPAA published their verdict on last year’s box office figures. The good news is the organization’s annual report looks at the entire world, and not just the U.S. The bad news, at least according to some, is that box office receipts only increased 1% during what was a record breaking year in Asia.<br> Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including Sony’s plans for a Ghostbuster’s universe, the worldwide premiere of next season’s “Game of Thrones” and Disney announces a sequel to “Frozen”.<br> <br> Hollywood, Esq. Blog at The Hollywood Reporter<br><br> <a title="Hollywood, Esq. Blog at The Hollywood Reporter" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/thr-esq" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/thr-esq</a><br> Tim Burton to Direct Live-Action ‘Dumbo’ for Disney<br><br> <a title="Tim Burton to Direct Live-Action ‘Dumbo’ for Disney" href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/03/10/tim-burton-to-direct-live-action-dumbo-as-disney-plots-fairy-tale-strategy/" target="_blank">http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/03/10/tim-burton-to-direct-live-action-dumbo-as-disney-plots-fairy-tale-strategy/</a><br> Live-Action ‘Dumbo’: PETA Asks Tim Burton to Change Ending<br><br> <a title="Live-Action 'Dumbo': PETA Asks Tim Burton to Change Ending" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/live-action-dumbo-peta-asks-780664" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/live-action-dumbo-peta-asks-780664</a><br> Liam Neeson: I’m Quitting Action Movies in Two Years<br><br> <a title="Liam Neeson: I'm Quitting Action Movies in Two Years" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/liam-neeson-im-quitting-action-780899" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/liam-neeson-im-quitting-action-780899</a><br> ‘Fifty Shades’ Stars Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan to Seek Seven-Figure Raises for Sequel<br><br> <a title="'Fifty Shades' Stars Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan to Seek Seven-Figure Raises for Sequel" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fifty-shades-stars-dakota-johnson-780410" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fifty-shades-stars-dakota-johnson-780410</a><br> Sumner Redstone to Miss Viacom Shareholder Meeting<br><br> <a title="Sumner Redstone to Miss Viacom Shareholder Meeting" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sumner-redstone-miss-viacom-shareholder-780916" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/sumner-redstone-miss-viacom-shareholder-780916</a><br> Paramount Pictures Undergoes Round of Layoffs<br><br> <a title="Paramount Pictures Undergoes Round of Layoffs" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paramount-pictures-undergoes-round-layoffs-780887" target="_blank">http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/paramount-pictures-undergoes-round-layoffs-780887</a><br> ‘Frozen 2’ in the Works, Disney Confirms<br><br> <a title="'Frozen 2' in the Works, Disney Confirms" href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/frozen-2-works-disney-confirms-780993">http://www.hollywoodreporter.</a>
