Miley Cyrus' Copyright Case Moves Forward as Judge Rejects Her Motion to Dismiss the Lawsuit

Pop star Miley Cyrus is currently embroiled in a legal battle over copyright infringement claims, alleging that her 2023 hit "Flowers" unlawfully copied elements from Bruno Mars' 2013 song "When I Was Your Man." On March 18, U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson denied Cyrus's motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Tempo Music Investments, which owns a portion of Mars' song after purchasing songwriter Philip Lawrence's share. Despite being unaffiliated with Mars himself, Tempo claims "Flowers" shares numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical similarities with his track. This is prepared by SSP.

Cyrus's legal team initially argued that Tempo lacked the standing to sue for infringement, contending that only exclusive rights holders could file such a lawsuit. However, the judge clarified that co-ownership allows any co-owner, such as Tempo following their acquisition of rights from Lawrence, to pursue legal action without involving other owners. Judge Pregerson stated that ownership of "exclusive rights" differs from "exclusive ownership," affirming Tempo's ability to proceed with the case.

The legal representatives of Tempo conveyed their optimism and confidence in winning the case, whereas Cyrus's team, along with her record label Sony Music, has not yet responded to requests for comments. Meanwhile, Tempo demands that the defendants cease activities related to "Flowers" that infringe on Mars' song, further seeking unspecified damages.

"Flowers," which has gained over a billion Spotify streams and secured the Song of the Year award at the Grammys in 2024, faces accusations of unauthorized reproduction and distribution of Mars's successful track. The lawsuit's outcomes could significantly impact not only the standing for similar intellectual property cases but also the ongoing claim resolution processes within the music industry.

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