Kaylah Walton
Adele is currently embroiled in a plagiarism controversy regarding her track ‘Million Years Ago’. A Brazilian judge has mandated its removal from global streaming services after claims arose that it had “appropriated” ‘Mulheres’ (Women), a song by Brazilian artist Toninho Geraes released in 1995.
This ruling was issued last Friday by Judge Victor Torres from the Sixth Commercial Court of Rio de Janeiro, which puts the Brazilian branches of Sony and Universal Music at risk of penalties amounting to $8,000 for non-compliance.
The directive requires Sony and Universal Music to immediately halt any “use, reproduction, editing, distribution, or marketing of the song ‘Million Years Ago’, through any means, whether physical or digital, including streaming and sharing services”.
Fredimio Trotta, the legal representative for Toninho Geraes, hailed the ruling as “a landmark for Brazilian music”, emphasizing how often it has been replicated in the creation of international hits.
Geraes pursuing royalties and damages from Adele
Geraes is pursuing the lawsuit for monetary compensation for lost royalties and moral damages, amounting to $160,000, and he seeks acknowledgment as a co-author of ‘Million Years Ago’, which appeared on Adele’s album ’25’ in 2015.
He claims that his samba piece ‘Mulheres’, performed by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila in 1995, has been plagiarized.
Universal Music has reacted by filing a motion to the Rio de Janeiro judge, requesting the retraction of the order concerning Adele’s song.
According to agencia EFE, which reported on the legal documents from Universal Music’s representation, the appeal contends that the injunction’s foundation is a perceived melodic similarity, which it clarifies does not equate to plagiarism in the music realm. The request also indicates that “musical clichés” often result in “similarities between the two songs and many others”.
