A Brazilian judge ordered that the song “Million Years Ago” from British pop superstar Adele sea withdrawal worldwide -including streaming services- due to a plagiarism lawsuit presented by a Brazilian composer.
The court order threatens the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony Music Entertainment y Universal MusicAdele’s record labels, with a fine of $8,000 “for each act of non-compliance.”
Record companies, however, can still appeal the decision.
The precautionary measure was issued by the judge Victor Torres on Friday, in the 6th Commercial Court of Rio de Janeiro, awaiting new actions in the ongoing plagiarism case.
His precautionary measure, obtained on Monday by AFPorders Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music to cease “immediately and globally, the use, reproduction, editing, distribution or marketing of the song “Million Years Ago”by any modality, medium, physical or digital support, streaming or sharing platform.”
“It is a milestone for Brazilian music, which (…) has often been copied to compose successful international hits”declared to the AFP Fredimio Trotta, lawyer of the Brazilian composer Toninho Geraeswho filed the complaint for plagiarism.
Trotta assured that his firm will work this week to ensure that radio and television stationsas well as streaming services around the world, be alerted to the Brazilian ruling.
Your client Geraes claims Adele’s 2015 song plagiarized music from her samba classic “Mulheres” (“Women”), recorded by famous Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila on a hit album in 1995.
Geraes claims lost copyrights, $160,000 in moral damages y credits for composing Adele’s song.
Sony Music Entertainment Brasil said it “does not have a statement at this time,” while Universal Music Brasil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trotta said that the precautionary measure should have a chilling effect on singers and foreign labels that try to copy Brazilian melodies.
“International producers and artists who… have Brazilian music ‘on their radar’ for possible parasitic use will think twice, given this decision,” the lawyer said.
Adele was also accused by Turkish fans to the plagiarized music in “Million Years Ago” back in 2015. They claimed that its melody was similar to that of a 1985 song by a Kurdish singer, Ahmet Kayacall “Holding on to the Pain” (“Holding on to the pain”).
Kaya died in exile in France in 2000, and his widow said it was unlikely that a global star like Adele would do something like that.
Brazil is a signatory to the Berne Convention of 1886which provides for the international protection of copyrighted works.
(With information from AFP)
