Pop star Miley Cyrus is set to face a lawsuit claiming her 2023 hit “Flowers” bears striking similarities to Bruno Mars’ emotional ballad “When I Was Your Man.” A judge has recently denied Miley’s request to dismiss the copyright lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed in September 2024 by Tempo Music Investments, a company that acquired the catalog rights of Philip Lawrence, one of the co-writers of Mars’ song. Interestingly, neither Bruno Mars nor Lawrence are named as plaintiffs in this case, which Miley Cyrus attempted to dismiss back in November.
In a ruling that has caught the attention of many, the judge pointed out that Miley Cyrus and her legal team had a “misunderstanding” of copyright law. Cyrus’ team argued that Tempo lacked the right to sue because they acquired Lawrence’s rights without the consent of the other songwriters, which they believed undermined their ability to take legal action.
However, the judge clarified that this argument was “incorrect,” emphasizing that Tempo holds an “exclusive right” to the copyright, which is distinct from “exclusive ownership.”
The ruling stated, “By transferring all of that interest, Tempo now steps into Lawrence’s shoes and is a co-owner of the exclusive rights of the copyright.” This means that since Lawrence, as a co-owner, could sue for infringement, Tempo can also pursue legal action without needing to involve the other co-owners of the copyright.
In a statement to the press, attorney Alex Weingarten, representing Tempo, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating, “We are thrilled but not the least surprised by the ruling. Our client is looking forward to having this case proceed to be resolved on its merits and are extremely confident in prevailing.”
As of now, legal representatives for Cyrus have not responded to requests for comment from the media.
“Flowers,” released in January 2023, quickly became a massive success for Miley Cyrus, dominating the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks and snagging the Record of the Year award at the 2024 Grammys.
Fans and critics alike have noted the similarities between “Flowers” and “When I Was Your Man,” with social media users drawing comparisons between the two songs’ lyrics almost immediately after the release.
