Miley Cyrus Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over Hit Song

Miley Cyrus is facing a lawsuit from Tempo Music Investments over claims that her chart-topping 2023 single, “Flowers”, unlawfully borrows elements from Bruno Mars’ 2013 hit, “When I Was Your Man”.

The lawsuit – filed in a Los Angeles court in California on Monday, 16 September – alleges that “Flowers” shares striking similarities in melody, harmony and chord progressions with Mars’ ballad. Despite these claims, Mars himself is not a plaintiff in the case.

Tempo Music, which purchased part of the copyright to Mars’ song from co-writer Philip Lawrence, argues that “Flowers” could not exist without “When I Was Your Man”; and seeks damages, as well as a ban on the reproduction or performance of Cyrus’ song.

The company has named Cyrus, along with her co-writers Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack, and major distributors like Sony Music Publishing and Apple, in the suit.

“Flowers” has been a commercial triumph for Cyrus, spending multiple weeks at the top of the Billboard charts and earning her two Grammy Awards. However, this legal battle casts a shadow over her recent success as she faces accusations of copyright infringement.

Neither Cyrus nor Mars has responded publicly to the lawsuit.

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