Miley Cyrus Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Copying of Bruno Mars’ 2013 Hit
Miley Cyrus is facing a legal battle over claims that her chart-topping 2023 single Flowers illegally borrowed elements from Bruno Mars’ 2013 song When I Was Your Man. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court by Tempo Music Investments, alleges that Cyrus and her co-writers, Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack, unlawfully copied portions of Mars’ track without permission.
Allegations Against Co-Writers and Distributors
The lawsuit, filed on Monday, also names several companies, including Sony Music Publishing, Apple, Target, and Walmart, for distributing the allegedly infringing song. The claim centers on the accusation that Flowers includes unauthorized “exploitation” of When I Was Your Man. Despite Mars being the performer of the 2013 hit, he is not listed as a plaintiff. Instead, the lawsuit was filed by Tempo Music, which reportedly owns a share of When I Was Your Manafter purchasing the rights from co-writer Philip Lawrence.
Copyright Infringement Claims
According to the suit, Tempo Music asserts that Flowers borrowed several critical elements from When I Was Your Man, including melodic, harmonic, and lyrical similarities. The lawsuit states: “Any fan of Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man knows that Miley Cyrus’s Flowers did not achieve all that success on its own. Flowers duplicates numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements of When I Was Your Man.”
Potential Ramifications for Cyrus
Tempo Music is seeking financial damages and an injunction that would prohibit Cyrus from reproducing, distributing, or publicly performing Flowers. The lawsuit claims that Cyrus’ song would not exist without When I Was Your Manand characterizes Flowers as a derivative work, a legal term that refers to a work based on or derived from one or more already existing works, created without proper authorization.
Success of Flowers
Flowers has been a monumental hit for Miley Cyrus, winning her the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance and topping the charts for eight weeks in the U.S. and ten weeks in the U.K. The song’s success, a testament to Cyrus’ talent and popularity, is now under scrutiny as Tempo Music seeks to hold the singer and her team accountable for what it deems unauthorized use of Mars’ earlier work.
The lawsuit marks the latest copyright dispute to emerge in the music industry. As the legal battle unfolds, it could set a significant precedent for future cases, sparking a wave of similar disputes. Many are closely watching how this legal battle will develop and its potential impact on the industry.
Awaiting Comments
Representatives for Miley Cyrus and Bruno Mars have yet to issue public statements regarding the lawsuit. However, Tempo Music’s pursuit of damages and a performance ban could have significant implications for the future of Flowersif the court rules in their favor. The outcome of this legal battle is eagerly anticipated by music industry professionals, legal experts, and fans alike.