Friday, December 20, 2024 - Grammy award-winning singer, Adele is the subject of a plagiarism case, as a local musician in Brazil has accused her of copying works from his 1995 album.
A 2015 song by Grammy Award-winning British singer Adele
could be pulled from streaming services globally after a Brazilian judge, Judge
Vitctor Torres ordered the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony and Universal to halt
“immediately and globally, from using, reproducing, editing, distributing or
commercialising the song 'Million Years Ago', by any modality, means, physical
or digital support, streaming or sharing platform.”
The song was released on Adele’s album ‘25’ and has been
involved in a continuing plagiarism case brought forward by Brazilian composer
Toninho Geraes, who alleges that 'Million Years Ago' plagiarised the music of
his 1995 samba song, 'Mulheres (Women)' - which Brazilian singer Martinho da
Vila recorded on the album 'Tá Delícia, Tá Gostoso'.
Geraes is suing for lost royalties, is seeking $160,000 in
moral damages, and wants a songwriting credit on Adele’s song.
Judge Torres's injunction also threatens Sony and Universal
with an $8,000 fine “per act of non-compliance.”
However, the labels can appeal the Judge’s decision and it
is not yet known if the judgement can be enforced in other parts of the world
where streaming services operate.
Fredimio Trotta, the lawyer for Toninho Geraes, told AFP
that Judge Torres’ ruling is a “landmark” one for Brazilian music. He further
alleged that music made in Brazil has “often been copied” to compose successful
hits in other parts of the world.
Trotta said his firm would work to alert streaming services,
radio, and television broadcasters of the Judge’s ruling.
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