
Posted March 22, 2018

Source: Christopher Polk/Billboard Awards 2014 / Getty
In 1977 Marvin Gaye had a hit song titled ‘Got To Give It Up’. In 2013 Robin Thicke had a hit song titled ‘Blurred Lines’. The two songs had a similar sound and feel, so similar that the estate of Marvin Gaye sued for copyright infringement. In 2015 a court agreed with the Marvin Gaye estate and awarded it $5.3m in damages. The creators of Robin Thicke’s 2013 hit appealed that decision and lost. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has upheld the 2015 verdict by a vote of 2-1. The Judge who dissented says that the two tracks “differed in melody, harmony and rhythm” and that it “strikes a devastating blow to future musicians and composers everywhere”. Many artists signed a letter voicing alarm at the precedent that was being set. They believe it will stifle their creativity. While it may be a victory for the Marvin Gaye estate it may be a blow to creativity in the music industry. Some say that it will challenge current artists to be more original and creative asking “what was the last truly original song that you have heard on the radio?”

A Real Life Wakanda: 'Black Panther' Fans Step Out In African-Inspired Glory For Premiere
A Real Life Wakanda: 'Black Panther' Fans Step Out In African-Inspired Glory For Premiere
1. Crown Wakanda Black Panther Screening & Gala

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A Real Life Wakanda: 'Black Panther' Fans Step Out In African-Inspired Glory For Premiere
Black Panther is not just a movie, it's a movement and a moment for blerds, Black comic book enthusiasts, Black children, POCs and Black people around the world. To celebrate the film's release, popular blerd podcast The Fan Bros. Show invited everyone to Wakanda for the night on Feb 15., at the Alamo Draft House in Brooklyn, N.Y. for the #CrownWakanda gala. Guests were encouraged to wear their best African/Wakandan inspired outfits. It was a night full of color, beauty, and pride. The event was also powered by Black Girl Nerds, Okayplayer, The Brooklyn NAACP, Okay Africa, Universal Fan Con, and others. Check out the gallery to see why representation in film and television definitely matters. And of course, WAKANDA FOREVER!