Pharrell, Robin Thicke ordered to pay US$7m to Marvin Gaye heirs over 'Blurred Lines'

A US jury has ordered pop stars Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams to pay US$7.3 million in damages to the family of Marvin Gaye, ruling the pair copied his music in writing their 2013 mega-hit Blurred Lines.

The eight-member California panel, which had been deliberating since last week, found that the pop stars lifted parts of Gaye’s 1977 hit Got to Give It Up.

Evidence presented in court suggested that Thicke and Williams each earned more than US$5 million from the success of the record.

During the two-week trial, Williams said he understood why fans connected the two songs, but explained: “Soul music sounds like soul music ... I must’ve been channeling that late ‘70s feeling.”

The Gaye estate had said that Blurred Lines copied elements of the 1970s track. The two sides brought in music experts who dissected the structures of the two songs to debate the merits of the claim.

WATCH: The music video for Blurred Lines

The jury cleared rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris Jnr – who collabourated with the pair on the song – of any wrongdoing.

At the time the Gaye song was copyrighted, only written music – not sound recordings – could be registered with the copyright office.

Although jurors saw the Blurred Lines video and heard the song, they were told to only consider the chords, melodies and lyrics of the songs, rather than production elements.

Long before the trial, Blurred Lines was controversial.

The song contains the refrain “I hate these blurred lines / I know you want it” and has been condemned by critics who say the lyrics refer to the issue of sexual consent.

The video features naked women parading before Thicke.

WATCH: The Gaye estate argued that Blurred Lines copied elements of this 1970s track