The record company denounces the use of “musical clichés” and requests the suspension of the Brazilian court’s decision
Women’s struggle
Universal Music, the record company responsible for the artist Adele’s catalog in Brazil, has appealed the injunction banning the circulation of the song “Million Years Ago” in the country. The lawsuit, filed by composer Toninho Geraes, accuses the British singer of plagiarizing the song “Mulheres”, popularized by Martinho da Vila in the 1990s.
The record company defends musical clichés
The appeal, filed on Monday (16/12), argues that there is no violation of copyright, as both songs use a recurring element in popular music. “The similarities between the two works are essentially due to the fact that many songs use a musical cliché known as the Chord Progression of the Circle of Fifths,” say Universal Music’s lawyers, according to information from the newspaper O Globo.
The defense also characterized the injunction as disproportionate, highlighting the possible economic losses resulting from the decision: “The granting of the injunction is disproportionate and causes inverse damage to the defendants, since the immediate suspension of ‘Million Years Ago’ will cause significant losses economic”. and compromising the artistic freedom of the people involved.”
Ban on enforcement in Brazil
The Court of Rio has ordered the circulation ban of “Million Years Ago” in Brazil, under penalty of a daily fine of R$ 50,000 in case of improper use. The decision, however, will only come into force after notification to the responsible streaming platforms.
Evidence was attached in the trial to support the accusation of plagiarism. One of these includes a video in which singer Ju Vianna superimposes the two songs, highlighting the similarities alleged by the composer.
International impact and author’s position
In an interview with Estadão, Toninho Geraes’ lawyer, Fredímio Biasotto Trotta, underlined the global scope of the decision: “The Court’s decision has global scope, as it applies to all 181 member countries that are signatories to the Bern Convention, which comprehensively protects original artistic and literary works.”
For Jornal Nacional, Toninho Geraes stated that he was just looking for recognition for his co-writing of the song. “It seems that our country, our musicians, our works are at the mercy of anyone who wants to come and cause trouble. We are a serious country. Therefore our justice is serious. I believe that the first step was the decision now of justice. “
Compare the two songs below.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
