Miley Cyrus is currently involved in a high-profile copyright infringement lawsuit related to her 2023 hit song “Flowers.” The lawsuit alleges that “Flowers” unlawfully copied significant melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements from Bruno Mars’ 2013 chart-topping song “When I Was Your Man.” This legal challenge raises important issues about copyright law, co-ownership of musical rights, and the boundaries of artistic inspiration versus infringement in the music industry.
Background of the Miley Cyrus Lawsuit
The lawsuit was filed in September 2024 by Tempo Music Investments LLC, a company that acquired a share of the copyright in Bruno Mars’ song from one of its co-writers, Philip Lawrence. The suit claims that Miley Cyrus, along with co-writers Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack, and associated companies such as Sony Music Publishing and Apple, unlawfully exploited the copyrighted work by creating “Flowers” as a derivative work.
“Flowers” achieved massive commercial success, garnering more than one billion streams on Spotify and winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2024, making the legal stakes and potential damages highly significant.
Details of the Lawsuit Allegations
Tempo Music Investments alleges that “Flowers” duplicates numerous musical elements of “When I Was Your Man,” including chord progressions, melodies, and lyrics. For example, the lawsuit highlights similarities between Bruno Mars’ lyric “I should have bought you flowers” and Cyrus’ lyric “I can buy myself flowers,” arguing that this inversion still constitutes unauthorized use.
The complaint asserts that these similarities are too extensive and precise to be coincidental, characterizing “Flowers” as a derivative that would not exist without the original Mars song.
Legal Claims and Relevant Laws
The lawsuit is based on copyright infringement laws. Tempo Music Investments, as a co-owner of one share of the copyright, contends it has standing to bring the case. Miley Cyrus’ defense argues that Tempo lacks full ownership rights because they acquired the rights from only one of multiple co-writers without the consent of others, thus questioning their legal ability to file the suit.
Legal debates focus on the interpretation of co-ownership in copyright law and whether partial ownership confers exclusive rights to sue. The court has ruled against Cyrus’ motion to dismiss, allowing the case to proceed.
Health, Financial, Social, or Industry Impacts
Financially, the case places significant potential liabilities on Cyrus and her partners due to the song’s commercial success. Socially, it underscores tensions in the music industry between protecting original work and allowing creative freedom. The case could also influence how music contracts and copyright ownership are handled in collaborative songwriting.
Current Status and Developments
As of early 2025, federal courts have denied Miley Cyrus’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit, enabling discovery and trial preparations to continue. The case remains active, with the potential to set important precedents affecting music copyright law, particularly regarding co-owned works.
Both parties are preparing for possible trial, with ongoing negotiations and legal proceedings expected to unfold over the coming months.
Consumer Advice and Industry Consequences
For artists, producers, and music companies, the lawsuit highlights the importance of clear copyright ownership agreements and thorough review before release. Understanding the complexities of co-ownership and licensing can mitigate future disputes and costly litigation.
Consumers should recognize the legal intricacies behind music production, acknowledging that many popular songs have disputed origins or legal claims pending.
Conclusion: Significance and Future Outlook
The Miley Cyrus lawsuit represents a critical legal battle in the evolving landscape of music copyright. The resolution will clarify the rights of partial copyright owners and delineate the boundary between inspiration and infringement. The outcome promises to impact copyright enforcement, industry practices, and artist collaborations broadly across the music business.
