The 6th Business Court of Rio de Janeiro has ordered the removal of the song “Million Years Ago” by British singer Adele from digital platforms after strong evidence of plagiarism involving the song “Mulheres,” composed by Toninho Geraes and sung by Martinho da Vila.
The court decision, resulting from a lawsuit by Toninho Geraes, points to “almost identical melodic similarity” between the works. This decision highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property across borders. In case of non-compliance, a fine of R$50,000 was established per infringing act.
The Brazilian composer filed the lawsuit in February of this year after unsuccessful attempts to reach an agreement with Adele, producer Greg Kurstin, and the record companies involved, including Sony and Universal. In addition to suspending the work, Toninho requests recognition of co-authorship, compensation, access to copyright, monetary adjustments, and interest.
Although preliminary, the decision represents a significant advance in protecting the rights of Brazilian composers and reinforces the seriousness of intellectual property legislation in the country.
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