A major Adele song has been ordered to be removed from a streaming platform.
Adele, one of the most celebrated pop artists of her generation, has been ordered to remove a significant track from streaming services worldwide.
Known for her chart-topping hits like ‘Rolling in the Deep’ and ‘Someone Like You,’ the 36-year-old singer now faces legal challenges related to a song from her 2015 album, 25.
One fan pens: “There’s nothing quite like the original. It’s a shame when such accusations overshadow true creativity.”
A second agrees: “It took them 6 years to start the case! Can’t have been that similar if it took the original artist 6 years to work it out.”
“Has a Brazilian judge got authority over the rest of the world?” queries a third.
Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes has alleged that Adele’s track ‘Million Years Ago’ copies the melody of his samba song ‘Mulheres (Women),’ which was popularized by Brazilian artist Martinho da Vila in 1995.
In light of this claim, Geraes is seeking compensation for lost royalties, $160,000 (£125,827) in moral damages, and recognition as a co-writer of Adele’s song.
According to a report in The Guardian, a Brazilian judge issued a ruling on December 13th, requiring Adele’s labels to remove ‘Million Years Ago’ from all streaming platforms worldwide.
The court order mandates that Sony and Universal halt: “any use, reproduction, editing, distribution, or commercialization” of the track through any medium, whether physical or digital, including streaming platforms.
Failure to comply with the order could result in fines of $8,000 (£6,300) per violation for the Brazilian branches of Sony and Universal.
While the record labels have the option to appeal, the injunction represents a significant moment in the ongoing case.
Fredimio Trotta, Geraes’ legal representative, described the ruling as a: “landmark for Brazilian music, which has often been used to create successful international hits.”
As of December 17, ‘Million Years Ago’ remains accessible on streaming platforms such as YouTube and Spotify, with the YouTube video amassing 135 million views.
This is not the first time the track has drawn copyright comparisons.
In 2015, Turkish fans accused Adele of borrowing from ‘Acilara Tutunmak,’ a 1985 song by Kurdish artist Ahmet Kaya.
These claims were later dismissed by Kaya’s widow, Gulten Kaya, who stated she believed any similarities were unintentional.
Sony Brazil declined to comment on the case when approached by The Guardian, while Universal Music Brazil did not respond to inquiries.
Adele herself has not yet made a public statement regarding the matter.
