Adele‘s song has been ruled as plagiarized.
The singer’s “Million Years Ago,” featured on 2015′s 25, has been ordered to be removed from streaming services and radio after a Brazilian court made the order, via The Guardian.
Toninho Geraes, 62, claimed the track copied his 1996 classic “Mulheres,” sung by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila.
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According to The Times, Judge Victor Torres made a preliminary injunction in Rio de Janeiro ordering Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music to stop “immediately and globally, from using, reproducing, editing, distributing or commercializing the song ‘Million Years Ago’ by any modality, means, physical or digital support, streaming or sharing platform.”
The plagiarism case was first introduced in 2021, and a fine of $8,000 “per act of non-compliance” has also been used to threaten the Brazilian subsidiaries of Adele’s labels, via Sky News.
Toninho Geraes‘ lawyer Fredimio Trotta said the decision was a “landmark for Brazilian music, which has often been copied to compose successful international hits.”
“International producers and artists who have Brazilian music ‘on their radar’ for possible parasitic use will think twice, given this decision,” he continued via The Times.
“The decision interrupts this harmful, criminal act, and now time is running out against those being prosecuted. Because interrupted plagiarism is plagiarism that doesn’t make a profit,” he added, via Sky News.
He is reportedly suing for lost royalties, $160,000 in damages, as well as a songwriting credit on Adele‘s song.
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