Miley Cyrus and her legal team have responded to a copyright infringement lawsuit regarding her hit song "Flowers" and its alleged similarities to Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man." The lawsuit, filed in September, faces significant challenges from the outset.

Photo Credit: Miley Cyrus by Raph PH / CC by 2.0

Key Points of the Legal Battle:

• The lawsuit was filed by Tempo Music Investments, not Bruno Mars or his co-writers
• Tempo only acquired partial rights from one co-writer, Philip Lawrence
• Cyrus' attorneys argue this partial ownership doesn't grant legal standing to sue
• The case claims "Flowers" copies melodic, harmonic, and bass-line elements from Mars' song

Legal Arguments:

1. Cyrus' Defense:

• Only exclusive copyright owners can file infringement lawsuits
• Partial interest holders have "non-exclusive rights" only
• The songs have "striking differences" in melody and musical elements
• Shared elements aren't protected by copyright

2. Plaintiff's Response:

• Tempo's counsel Alex Weingarten calls Cyrus' arguments "intellectually dishonest"
• Claims they have proper legal standing
• Argues "Flowers" wouldn't exist without Mars' track

The case's outcome remains pending, with the core issue centered on whether Tempo Music Investments has sufficient legal standing to pursue the copyright claim. While fans have long noted similarities between the songs, the legal battle focuses more on technical ownership rights than musical comparisons.

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