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!