Miley Cyrus Strikes Back: The Legal Battle Over “Flowers” Blooms

Legal Details

• Filed by Tempo Music Investments in September 2024.
• Defendants include Cyrus, songwriters Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack, Sony Music Publishing, and Apple.
• Seeking undetermined damages and cessation of “Flowers” distribution.

Core Arguments

• Tempo Music Investments acquired Philip Lawrence’s catalog rights around 2020.
• Cyrus’s legal team argues Tempo lacks standing as a partial rights holder.
• The motion states only owners of exclusive rights may sue for copyright infringement.

Song Comparisons

Original Creation Context

• Cyrus initially wrote “Flowers” with different lyrics: “I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand, but I can’t love me better than you can.”
• The song was originally composed as a melancholic 1950s-style piece.

Legal Background

• Ownership Structure: Tempo owns partial rights through Philip Lawrence’s catalog.
• Bruno Mars is not named in the lawsuit.

Claims

• Tempo alleges “Flowers” duplicates melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements.
• The complaint argues “Flowers” would not exist without “When I Was Your Man.”
• Claims include unauthorized reproduction and distribution.

Timeline