A recent ruling has allowed a copyright lawsuit against Miley Cyrus to proceed, which claims her hit song “Flowers” shares significant similarities with Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.” The decision comes from Judge Dean D. Pregerson, who denied Cyrus’ request to dismiss the case.

Details of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit was filed by Tempo Music Investments, which holds rights to “When I Was Your Man.” They assert that Cyrus’ Grammy-winning song replicates several melodic and lyrical elements of Mars’ track. According to court documents, these include:

• Similar melodic pitch design and verse structure
• Identical bass-lines and certain chorus bars
• Specific lyrical and chord progressions

Tempo Music purchased the rights to the song from Philip Lawrence, a co-writer, and is represented by Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack.

Legal Arguments Disputed

Cyrus’ attorneys contended that the rights of a co-owner could not be pursued following a transfer. However, Judge Pregerson disagreed, emphasizing that such limitations would undermine the value of jointly owned copyrights. He stated, “Ownership of ‘exclusive rights’ is not to be conflated with ‘exclusive ownership’ of rights.” He clarified that rights are held collectively by co-owners, which is essential for collaborative works.

Implications of the Ruling

The case continues as Tempo Music has requested that Cyrus, along with other parties such as Sony Music Publishing and Apple, cease any reproduction, distribution, or public performance of “Flowers.” The lawsuit highlights broader questions of copyright ownership and the implications for artists in a collaborative industry.

As the legal proceedings unfold, both Cyrus and Tempo Music’s representatives have been approached for comments but have not yet responded.