Toninho Geraes’ defense says that the decision is “fragile” and “illegal”
Summary
Rio’s justice determined the transfer of the case of the plagiarism involving Adele and Toninho Geraes to San Paolo, a decision criticized by the defense of the composer as “fragile” and “illegal”.
The Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro has established that the alleged case of plagiarism that the singer Adele would have committed, compared to the song of Toninho Geraes, would have been transferred to a court of San Paolo. The 6th commercial court declared “incompetent” to judge the case. The composer’s defense said that the decision is “fragile” and “illegal”.
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The decision, signed by judge Simone Gastesi Chevrand, came out on Wednesday 16. In a press release, the lawyers Fredimio Biasotto Trotta and Deborah Sztajnberg said that the redirection of the trial is “an anticlimax” as regards the injunction granted since December, which determined the “million digital platforms from” due to digital platforms. by the composer and made popular in Martinho da Vila’s item.
“Yesterday’s decision is fragile and illegal. Against her, it is relevant that none of the parties has a domicile in San Paolo. Both Toninho Geraes and Universal are domiciled in Rio de Janeiro. The sending of the trial to a state of the strangers of the Federation is quite unusual. […] Toninho Geraes does not bend. The law will not bend. We accentuate and fight, ”they underlined.
THE Earth He tried to contact Universal Music Brasil to find out what the company’s position is on the decision, but he did not get a return until the last update of this report.
Understand the case
Toninho Geraes is accusing the singer Adele of plagiarizing the song “Women”, written by the composer and popularized in the voice of Martinho da Vila, in “Millions of August” 2015. According to the defense of Geraes, there are evidence that present the case.
TO EarthThe lawyer Fredimio Biasotto Trotta, who represents the defense of Geraes, said he initially tried to warn the singer and record labels, but have not received a response.
“It all started with notifications, containing more than 80 pages, sent in May 2021 to Adele, to Greg Kurstin, XL Recordings, Sony and Beggars Group. Only Sony replied, stating that the question was in the hands of Adele and XL. In the meantime, we were producing other tests,” he explained.
According to him, comparative videos, analysis of scores, testimonies of musicians and listeners were collected: “common observer test”, important in cases of plagiarism. During this trial, the defense discovered that the Universal Music Publishing MGB Brazil Ltda, in which the songs of the composer “Women” are modified, has also changed the songs of Adele.
“In evident conflict of interest in favor of the British artist and the detriment of the Brazilian composer,” said Biasico. “We tried to solve friendly, but Universal has not surrendered. In the meantime, Adele was still silent, refusing to comment on the case, even in front of international journalists”.
Due to the impasse, the defense advanced with an action of contractual resolution against Universal in December 2023 and, in February last year, with the action of the recognition of plagiarism, self -destroyed with compensation for moral and material damage. The composer asks $ 1 million.
In December 2024, the Rio de Janeiro court ordered the retreat of Adele’s music, but returned this year after a request from the defense of the label.
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.
