Official court ruling or statement from Universal Music

Brazilian Judge Orders Adele's 2015 Song 'Million Years Ago' Withdrawn Globally Over Plagiarism Claim by Toninho Geraes

Dec 17, 2024, 10:14 AM

A Brazilian judge has ordered the global withdrawal of Adele's 2015 song 'Million Years Ago' from streaming platforms and sales, following a plagiarism claim by Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes. The injunction, issued by Judge Victor Torres in Rio de Janeiro's 6th Business Court, targets the Brazilian subsidiaries of Adele's record labels, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music, with a fine of $8,000 per act of non-compliance and a daily fine of R$50,000 for any violation. Geraes alleges that 'Million Years Ago,' part of Adele's 2015 album '25,' plagiarizes his samba song 'Mulheres,' which was recorded by Martinho da Vila in 1995. He is seeking $160,000 in moral damages and songwriting credit on Adele's track. The decision, which is part of an ongoing case and applies to 181 countries under the Berne Convention, marks a significant challenge for the British singer, whose song has garnered over 200 million plays on Spotify. Universal Music has filed an appeal to reverse the injunction, arguing that both songs use a common musical cliché.