A judge in Brazil has ordered a 2015 Adele song to be removed from streaming services globally.
In September 2021, Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes came forward alleging that one of Adele’s songs plagiarises one of his hits.
What is the accusation?
Geraes has accused the British singer – who’s full name is Adele Adkins – of plagiarizing his samba hit ‘Mulheres’ [Women] which features on his 1995 hit album and was recorded by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila.
Geraes’ lawyer Fredimio Trotta called the 62-year-old’s song ‘a landmark for Brazilian music,’ as quoted by AFP.
He also claimed the song has ‘often been copied to compose successful international hits’.
And one of those ‘successful international hits’ which allegedly copies Geraes song is an acoustic track from Adele’s third studio album 25 ,which came out in 2015 and sees the singer accompanied only by a guitar, with the claim alleging it plagiarizes the melody.
Adele’s ‘Million Years Ago’ has been accused of plagiarizm (Stefanie Keenan/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
‘Immediately and globally’
The claim alleges that Adele’s ‘Million Years Ago’ plagiarizes ‘Mulheres’ and the suit subsequently seeks a songwriting credit on Adele’s track, compensation for lost royalties and $160,000 in moral damages.
Geraes previously told the BBC: “I think that, if there is justice, I should be compensated for what this song has already generated in dividends. Our desire is for public reparations, but my intention was never to expose Adele.”
On Friday (December 13), Judge Victor Torres issues an injunction in Rio de Janeiro’s sixth commercial court – confirmed yesterday – which requires 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’.
‘Per act of non-compliance,’ the injunction also imposes an $8,000 fine on the Brazilian subsidiaries of Universal and Sony, however, the companies can appeal the decision.
Trotta said: “International producers and artists who […] have Brazilian music ‘on their radar’ for possible parasitic use will think twice, given this decision.”
He also said that his firm would be working to ensure that radio, TV broadcasters and streaming platforms be alerted to the ruling, as per The Guardian.
It’s not the first time Adele’s song has faced accusations of plagiarism either.
Another accusation against the song
Shortly after the song was released, fans of singer Ahmet Kaya took to social media also accusing Adele’s ‘Million Years Ago’ of sharing similarities with the title song from Kaya’s 1985 album Acilara Tutunmak [Clinging to Pain].
However, Kaya died in 2000, with his widow saying that she found it unlikely that Adele would have plagiarised the song, NME reports.
