Miley Cyrus loses bid to dismiss copyright lawsuit over Flowers

In 2023, a lawsuit was filed against Miley Cyrus in California federal court, claiming that her hit song 'Flowers' unlawfully copied elements from Bruno Mars' song 'When I Was Your Man.' The lawsuit was initiated by Tempo Music Investments, which owns a share of the copyright in Mars' song after acquiring it from co-writer Philip Lawrence in 2020. Tempo Music alleged that 'Flowers' duplicates numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements of the Mars song, including similarities in melodic pitch design, the sequence of verses, connecting bass-line and specific chord progressions. Cyrus and her legal team filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Tempo Music lacked standing to sue under US copyright law since they claimed to lack 'exclusive rights' to the song. However, on March 18, 2024, U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson ruled against Cyrus, asserting that the limitation argued by Cyrus would discourage co-authoring and diminish the value of jointly owned copyrights. Pregerson emphasized that co-owners hold collective rights, allowing them to sue for infringement independently. The lawsuit continues to progress, as Tempo Music expresses confidence in prevailing, and Cyrus’ team refrains from responding directly to the implications of the ongoing legal battle. The controversy surrounding the case reflects broader discussions about copyright laws relevant to artists and songwriters in the music industry today, especially concerning collaboration and ownership. At stake is not only the financial implications for Cyrus and her record label Sony Music but also the precedent it may set for future copyright claims between artists. As both parties prepare for the next steps in court, the music industry is closely watching this case. With 'Flowers' achieving over 1 billion streams on Spotify and receiving a Grammy award for Song of the Year in 2024, the stakes are high for both Cyrus and the accusers. The dispute raises questions regarding originality in songwriting, particularly in pop music, where influences often overlap. Artists and legal experts alike await the outcome of this case, as it might define how copyright infringement is interpreted around co-written music compositions moving forward.