We have already written about the ridiculousness of a jury awarding over $7 million from Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke to the children of Marvin Gaye, because their song „Blurred Lines“ sounds kinda (but not really) a bit like Gaye‘s „Got to Give it Up.“ The ruling is problematic on multiple levels, as many commentators are just now realizing. Copyright lawyer Fred von Lohmann pointed out that, technically, everyone who bought copies of „Blurred Lines“ is now infringing as well — and that could apply to many others too, including Weird Al who famously did a hilarious parody of „Blurred Lines“ called „Word Crimes.“ Weird Al, somewhat famously, makes sure to get permission to do his parodies, even though he could probably just use fair use. But… if „Blurred Lines“ is infringing, there‘s no fair use argument to be made and Weird Al doesn‘t have permission from the Gaye Estate.

In other words: what a massive mess.