Judge orders Adele’s ‘Million Years Ago’ be pulled from streaming globally over plagiarism claim

A judge in Brazil has ordered that Adele’s song ‘Million Years Ago’ be removed from streaming globally following a plagiarism claim.

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The claims were brought forward by a Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes, who claimed that the pop star’s 2015 song plagiarised the music of samba classic ‘Mulheres (Women)’, which was recorded by Martinho da Bila in 1995. He sued for lost royalties, $160,000 (£126,000) in moral damages and a songwriting credit on the Adele song.

Now, Judge Victor Torres has ruled that ‘Million Years Ago’ be pulled worldwide. The injunction was made on Friday (December 13) in  Rio de Janeiro’s sixth commercial court.

According to reports by AFP and The Guardian, the move orders both Sony and Universal – Adele’s labels – to stop “immediately and globally, from using, reproducing, editing, distributing or commercializing the song ‘Million Years Ago’, by any modality, means, physical or digital support, streaming or sharing platform”.

Brazilian subsidiaries of Sony and Universal are threatened with a fine of $8,000 (£6,300) per “act of non-compliance” with the judge’s ruling.

“It is a landmark for Brazilian music, which … has often been copied to compose successful international hits,” Fredimio Trotta, the lawyer for Geraes told AFP (via The Independent). Trotta also added that his firm will work to ensure that streaming services and both radio and television broadcasters globally are made aware of the ruling.

The Brazilian subsidiary of Sony said it did “not have a statement at this time” regarding the decision, and Universal Music Brazil has not yet publicly responded.

Elsewhere in his statement to AFP, Trotta stated that he hopes the decision will deter other artists from using Brazilian music unlawfully. “International producers and artists who […] have Brazilian music ‘on their radar’ for possible parasitic use will think twice, given this decision,” he said.

This isn’t the first time that Adele has faced legal action over the ‘Million Years Ago’ song. Back in 2015, she was accused by music fans in Turkey of copying a song by Kurdish singer, Ahmet Kaya, called ‘Acilara Tutunmak (Clinging to Pain)’.

The song was originally shared in 1985. Kaya died in France in the year 2000, and his widow said she found it unlikely that Adele would have plagiarised the song.

In other Adele news, the ’30’ singer-songwriter recently completed her 50-weekend, 100-show stint at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Sin City, and has since told fans: “I don’t know when I’m going to perform again.”