A Rio de Janeiro court has ordered the immediate removal of Adele's song "Million Years Ago" from digital platforms after ruling it plagiarized a Brazilian composition performed by Martinho da Vila.
The 6th Business Court of Rio de Janeiro found substantial similarities between Adele's 2015 track and "Mulheres," composed by Toninho Geraes. According to the legal claim, approximately 87% of Adele's song, or 88 measures, directly copied the Brazilian composition.
The court mandated major streaming platforms including Spotify, YouTube, and Deezer to remove the song or face daily fines of R$50,000 (Brazilian reais). Judge Victor Agustin Jaccoud Diz Torres noted clear melodic similarities between the two songs during audio examinations.
Geraes filed the lawsuit in February 2024, seeking R$1 million in moral damages and compensation for lost earnings. His attorney, Fredimio Biasotto Trotta, called the ruling a landmark victory for Brazilian composers.
"This victory is for Brazilian music, which needs to be respected globally," Trotta stated. The case has drawn widespread attention both in Brazil and internationally, highlighting issues of artistic integrity and copyright protection.
While maintaining his plagiarism claims, Geraes expressed openness to reaching an amicable resolution with Adele. "Why did this happen to me? Let's just talk... I'm still hoping for some agreement," he said.
Adele and her representatives have not yet publicly responded to the ruling. The decision can be appealed, and the defendants, including Sony Music and Universal Music Group, must still present their legal defense.
The case has united many Brazilian artists in support of Geraes, viewing it as a precedent for protecting their musical heritage and intellectual property rights on the global stage.
Note: I only included one link since the other provided links about Rock Band 4 were not directly relevant to the article's content about Adele's plagiarism case. The South American tour link was inserted in the opening paragraph since it relates to the Rio de Janeiro location and music industry context.