Miley Cyrus faces a lawsuit alleging her hit “Flowers” copies Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.” A judge denied Cyrus’s bid to dismiss the case, meaning the lawsuit will proceed. Tempo Music Investments claims “Flowers” duplicates melodic and harmonic elements of the Mars song. The legal battle continues.
A judge has ruled that the copyright lawsuit against Miley Cyrus over her hit “Flowers” will move forward. The case, filed by Tempo Music Investments, claims that Cyrus’ track borrows key elements from Bruno Mars’ 2013 chart-topper “When I Was Your Man.”
Cyrus and her legal team had sought to dismiss the case, arguing that Tempo lacked the authority to sue. Tempo had acquired rights from Philip Lawrence, a co-writer of Mars’ track, but Cyrus’ attorneys claimed that a partial copyright owner could not take legal action without the consent of other stakeholders. However, U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson ruled that Tempo, as a co-owner, holds the right to pursue the lawsuit.
In response to the decision, Tempo’s lead attorney Alex Weingarten expressed confidence in their case. Meanwhile, representatives for Cyrus have not issued a public statement on the ruling.
“Flowers” has been one of Cyrus’ biggest commercial successes, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and winning a Grammy in 2024. Since its release, listeners have drawn comparisons between the melodies and themes of both tracks. Some fans speculated that “Flowers” was a direct response to “When I Was Your Man,” as Mars’ track was rumored to be a favorite of Cyrus’ ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth.
When the lawsuit was filed in September 2024, some legal experts suggested that while artists often create songs inspired by existing works, outright copying of musical structures could lead to legal consequences. Tempo alleges that “Flowers” incorporates significant elements from “When I Was Your Man,” including specific melodic patterns and harmonic progressions.
The case now moves toward trial, where Cyrus’ team will argue that her work does not infringe on Mars’ composition. They claim that any similarities stem from common musical elements rather than direct replication. With both sides standing firm, the outcome of this legal battle could have a lasting impact on the industry.
