Pop superstar Adele could face substantial financial losses as her 2015 hit "Million Years Ago" faces potential removal from streaming platforms worldwide following a recent court ruling in an ongoing plagiarism dispute.
Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes claims the Grammy-winning singer's track plagiarizes his work. The court has now issued an injunction ordering the immediate global ban of Adele's song from all streaming and sharing platforms.
The ruling threatens Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music's Brazilian subsidiaries with an $8,000 fine per violation if they fail to comply with the removal order.
Geraes is seeking $160,000 in damages, lost royalties, and songwriting credit for Adele's track. His attorney, Fredimio Trotta, called the ruling "a landmark for Brazilian music," adding that international artists will now think twice before potentially misusing Brazilian compositions.
This isn't the first controversy surrounding "Million Years Ago." In 2015, fans of Kurdish singer Ahmet Kaya alleged similarities between Adele's song and Kaya's 1985 track "Acilara Tutunmak," though no legal action resulted from those claims.
Adele previously shared that the song was inspired by her memories of London's Brockwell Park, where she spent much of her youth. During a 2015 BBC special with Graham Norton, she explained how driving past the park triggered emotional memories that inspired the track.
The court battle comes as Adele recently concluded her two-year Las Vegas residency. The singer has announced a break from music following the completion of her Vegas shows.
Representatives for Adele have not yet commented on the court ruling or its potential impact on the song's availability across streaming platforms.
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