Miley Cyrus is facing allegations of copyright infringement regarding her hit song “Flowers,” as a lawsuit has been filed in Los Angeles. The claim asserts that Cyrus, along with her co-writers Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack, may have borrowed elements from Bruno Mars’ 2013 ballad “When I Was Your Man.” This legal action, initiated by Tempo Music Investments, a partial copyright owner of the Mars track, accuses Cyrus of incorporating unauthorized musical components from the original song. Notably, Bruno Mars himself is not included as a plaintiff in this case.
According to the lawsuit, “Flowers,” which has garnered two Grammy Awards including Record of the Year, allegedly replicates several key aspects of Mars’ song. The complaint specifies that numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyric elements are shared between the two pieces. The plaintiffs argue that “Flowers” is a derivative work that could not have occurred without the influence of “When I Was Your Man.”
The lawsuit targets not only Cyrus and her co-writers but also major distribution companies such as Sony Music Publishing, Apple, Target, and Walmart, accusing them of profiting from what the plaintiffs label as an infringing work. While Cyrus’ representative has yet to respond to requests for comment, the legal battle reflects the ongoing scrutiny surrounding artistic originality and copyright in the music industry. Fans of both artists can find it hard to ignore the parallels between the two songs, as the case unfolds in court.