Will.i.am Vs Pharrell Williams Legal Drama Heats Up: “He Hasn’t Reached My Level Of Distinction / He’s A Copy Cat’

Published: Tuesday 15th Oct 2013 by David

 

In the August of this year, ‘Use Your Heart’ producer Pharrell Williams launched the ‘I Am Other’ YouTube channel as part of the company’s $100 million original channel venture.

Upon learning of the channel, rival producer Will.i.am issued a cease and desist letter to the ‘Blurred Lines‘ maestro, ordering him to stop using the ‘I Am Other’ name, claiming that he owned the rights to the ‘I Am’ title.

It was then, after exposing the letter Will had initially denied issuing him, that Williams stepped into the legal ring with the hit maker, engaging in a legal spar that’s taken a very ‘catty’ turn this week.

How?

Full story below…

In response to Pharrell’s lawsuit- launched to protect his right to use the ‘I AM’ name- Will has filed a countersuit, which sees him claim the ‘Boys’ hit maker is a rampant copy cat, with a long history of stealing ideas from his fellow artists.

So determined is Will to prove that Pharrell ‘stole’ from him, that he cites numerous examples he claims support the claim. One of these, being remarks made by the family of Marvin Gaye- who claim Pharrell joined singer Robin Thicke to plagiarise Gaye‘s Art Stewart produced classic ‘Got To Give It Up’ to craft the aforementioned ‘Lines’.

In response to Will’s efforts, Williams has asked the court to throw out the case, as their varying levels of success makes it impossible for any to be confused by both brands.

Hinting at Will’s long running but fruitless attempts to enjoy solo success away from the ‘Black Eyed Peas‘, Pharrell‘s suit sees him call the claims against him ‘erroneous’, teasing the ‘Scream & Shout’ producer’s career by pointing out that ‘he is yet to reach the same level of distinction’ as him.’

Keep it locked on That Grape Juice for more on this developing story!

Source.

Your thoughts?

Posted under:

Comments 32

Please Post Your Comments & Reviews

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Arie October 15, 2013

    mmmh! very ineresting.

  2. Beyawnce October 15, 2013

    I am? Seriously get over it will

  3. CAKE LIKE LADY GAGA October 15, 2013

    lol DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    😀 😀 😀

  4. love of music October 15, 2013

    “William” sit yo ugly ass down!

  5. Anon October 15, 2013

    I low key love how this site writes.

    • NT October 15, 2013

      YES!

      • SweetDestiny October 15, 2013

        You’re the fifth person I’ve heard say that recently. They’re actually really good writers but it’s hard to tell unless you read what they write thoroughly.

        It’s the reason they’re the only site I read religiously.

      • RiriRoyale October 15, 2013

        I agree. Pointless Rihanna shade aside, i can’t think of any other website that writes as well and as fast of them.

  6. rih rox((U mad Bro?)) October 15, 2013

    Will.I.Ever is one annoying has-been.

  7. rih rox((U mad Bro?)) October 15, 2013

    Pharelle looks cute in that top pic.

  8. MarinasDiamonds October 15, 2013

    HMMMMMMMM. This is so interesting.

  9. MISHKA October 15, 2013

    I understand where Will.I.Am comes from on this one.

    And for Pharell to say Will.I.Am has yet to reach the same level of distinction as him is EXACTLY why Willi.I.Am is trying to protect HIS brand.

    I’m disappointed in Pharell’s move here. He doesn’t need this battle, since he thinks they are not in the same league, he may as well let the brother do his little thing and stop trying to overshadow him.

    • BarbzRUs October 15, 2013

      Good points sis.

  10. Damo October 15, 2013

    As a black man, this is just disgraceful, these b****** need to stop this seriously

    • JanetXone October 15, 2013

      What’s disgraceful. Black men aren’t allowed to feud?

      • Damo October 15, 2013

        It’s embarrasing that they need to feud so publicly, this industry is hard enough for black folks as it is, when we have great people like Will and Pharrell who we see as inspirations, pioneers and who are 2 of the few who hold us in a good light, to see them lower themselves to public spats, is not good, clearly your not black cos if you were you would know that our golden rule is to keep this type of s*** behind closed doors, these are grown men, not little school boys! At present one of the biggest bands in the world are going through a legal battle with each other, you will read of this NOWHERE because they have chosen to be respectable and keep it out f the public eye and thats been going on for 4 years, big producers of there status should do the same!

      • JanetXone October 15, 2013

        But hun, they’re not feuding publicly. The court documents are available for people to obtain and that’s why it’s being reported. We wouldn’t even have known about the case if P didn’t talk about it.

  11. HeatherSmalls4Life October 15, 2013

    This was so interesting I bumped into a man in the train because I was reading it so hard. Coffee everywhere.

  12. Mother October 15, 2013

    Get him Pharrell! Kinda obvious Pharrell copied that Marvin Gaye song though.

  13. Iconic cici October 15, 2013

    Yawn William is a nuisance.

  14. NT October 15, 2013

    I see were Pharell is coming from but i could also see how Wil.I.Am would want to build up his brand.

  15. Ms.Campbell October 15, 2013

    Chawld, These Queens

  16. Dollyville October 15, 2013

    Kudos to TGJ for this story. I read it elsewhere and didn’t understand what the beef was but this made it so easy to understand.

  17. Antonio October 15, 2013

    Does the world not know that Aaliyah covered Got to Give it Up on One in a Million and released it as a single, but I don’t recall any lawsuit being filed against her, Missy or Timbaland. The only reason the Gaye family is suing Pharell and Robin is because, yes the song does somewhat sample “Give It Up” but mostly because Blurred Lines is now one of the biggest songs in human history. People will now hum “oh hey hey hey… if you cant feel what Im trying to say” until the end of time. Williamina, dont get mad at Pharell because your solo albums flop and you use repetitive EDM beats with all your artist but Pharell always uses distinct sounds and has never been repetitive #GetYaLife

  18. #IndustryPussy October 15, 2013

    its true though; Will us never going to be a solo act because he sucks. He’s as good as that boy-band member that can’t sing but is on stage because they are pretty. Only, Will also ain’t ANYWHERE CLOSE to being pretty ao he needs to just stop and accept his fate as a producer and back up singer (autotuner) for BEP. Pharrell won this as soon as Will’s b**** ass started boosting his own ego with lies. f****** f***** ass loser, GO AWAY WILL YOU’RE LIKE THE RAPPER PITBULL OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY!

    • WILL.I.WASNT October 15, 2013

      lol @ Pitbull

      DALE!

  19. TeamBreezy October 15, 2013

    Its simple,
    S**** 4 u > Scream & Shout

  20. TONIO HIZZO October 15, 2013

    Thanking God for Fergie is what William should be doin… You own I AM…. Where’s The Beyonce lawsuit…
    If they were called OTHER I AM, maybe you’d have a leg 2 balance on…

    Pharell is virtually right William’s success was with people outside the norm gassing him up as something greater than he was, then realizing how much no one else cared for him… William will never match Pharell’s Impact

  21. etone October 15, 2013

    WILL.Iam might win this since the I AM. name is in his title Will…no disrespect to Pharrell.

  22. etone October 15, 2013

    Beyonce I. Am was. just an album..Pharrell and Will. have a brand a company….that. is. why

  23. etone October 15, 2013

    Beyonce I am was. an album title..Will and Pharrell both have brands..companies. that is why

Recommended Posts
..**