Adele has been accused of plagiarism as a Brazilian judge orders one of her song Million Years Ago to be pulled from streaming services worldwide.
The decision comes after a lawsuit was filed by Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes.
Mr Geraes, 62, claims Adele’s 2015 song, which features on her hit album 25, plagiarised the music of his samba classic Mulheres (Women), recorded by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila on a 1995 hit album.
It has been alleged that after expert analysis and overlapping of the two melodies, it is evident that there is an ‘undisguised symmetry’ between the artists’ tracks.
The injunction was made by judge Victor Torres on Friday (December 13) in Rio de Janeiro’s sixth commercial court, pending further activity in the continuing plagiarism case.
The injunction threatens the Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony and Universal, Adele’s labels, with a fine of $8,000 (£6,300) ‘per act of non-compliance’.
Adele has been accused of plagiarism as a Brazilian judge orders oneher song Million Years Ago to be pulled from streaming services worldwide
Both music labels will be able to appeal the decision.
‘It is a landmark for Brazilian music, which…has often been copied to compose successful international hits,’ Fredimio Trotta, Mr Geraes’ lawyer, said.
Mr Trotta said his firm would be working to ensure that radio and television broadcasters, and streaming services around the world, were alerted to the Brazilian ruling.
As soon as the streaming services are judicially notified, Adele’s song, which has over 223 million streams on Spotify, will be removed.
A specific date has not yet been set, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Mr Geraes is suing for lost royalties, $160,000 (£127,000) in moral damages, plus songwriting credit on Adele’s track.
The lawsuit was filed in February. Mr Geraes has also asked that the producer Greg Kurstin be compensated.
A representative for Adele has been contaced by MailOnline for comment.
A lawsuit was filed by Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes. Mr Geraes, 62, claims Adele’s 2015 song plagiarised the music of his samba classic Mulheres (Women)
It’s not the first time Adele has been accused of plagiarising her track Million Years Ago.
Back when it was released in 2015 Turkish music lovers claimed the track was a rip-off of the 1985 song Acilara Tutunmak by Kurdish musician Ahmet Kaya.
The song’s release created a storm in Turkey, with some social media users accusing Adele of ‘stealing’ the melancholic tune from Kaya, who died in France in exile in 2000.
Kaya’s widow Gulten Kaya also weighed in, saying it was unlikely for a global star like Adele to do such a thing. ‘However, if she consciously did it, then it would be theft,’ she told Turkish daily Posta. A legal case was never pursued.
Adele has an estimated net worth of $220 million, which comes from her concerts, music sales and streaming royalties as well as merchandise and investments.
Last month, she wrapped her two-year Las Vegas residency.
Million Years Ago features on Adele’s hit album 25. Back when it was released in 2015 Turkish music lovers claimed the track was a rip-off of the 1985 song Acilara Tutunmak
During her last show, she addressed speculation that she would be retiring as she admitted that she wasn’t sure when she would next release new music or tour.
‘I just dunno when I want to next come on stage,’ she confessed. ‘And it’s time to move on.’
‘It’s time for the next chapter and it’s time for the next season of my life.’
The star also gave a nod to her family, son Angelo, and fiancée Rich Paul in her tear-jerking speech.
At the end of her performance, Adele recalled the start of her stint in Sin City as ‘f****** rocky’ and described 2022, which saw her cancel gigs less than 24 hours before the first show, as the ‘worst year of her life’.
Her entire 24-date residency was scrapped at the 11th hour after claims that half her team had Covid and they ‘ran out of time’ for the show to be ready.
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