Brazil Judge Orders Global Ban on Adele Song

A Brazilian judge has issued a global order to remove Adele’s song “Million Years Ago” from all platforms, including streaming services, due to an ongoing plagiarism case brought by Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes. The injunction, issued by Judge Victor Torres in Rio de Janeiro’s 6th Commercial Court, demands that the song be halted from distribution, reproduction, and commercialization worldwide. It also threatens Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music’s Brazilian branches with an $8,000 fine for each act of non-compliance.

Geraes claims that Adele’s 2015 song copied elements from his 1995 samba hit “Mulheres,” which was performed by Brazilian singer Martinho da Vila. He is seeking lost royalties, $160,000 in damages, and songwriting credit for the track. His lawyer, Fredimio Trotta, has emphasized that this ruling is significant for Brazilian music and could deter foreign artists and labels from using Brazilian music without permission.

While Sony and Universal can still appeal the decision, the ruling is expected to have a lasting impact on how international artists approach Brazilian music. This is not the first time Adele has faced plagiarism allegations for “Million Years Ago”; in 2015, Turkish fans accused her of copying a melody from a 1985 song by Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya.

Brazil is a signatory to the Berne Convention, which ensures international protection for copyrighted works, and this case could set an important precedent for global music copyright enforcement.