Is the press coverage of Tempo Music Investments, LLC v. Miley Cyrus aligned with the court record?

Coverage leans toward the plaintiff. No classified ruling yet to compare against the court record.

Tempo Music Investments, LLC v. Miley Cyrus

Tempo Music Investments sues Miley Cyrus for copyright infringement over an unspecified musical work.

Summary generated by AI from public docket data. Verify against the original filing before relying on it.

Deep summary (AI brief of the complaint)

**Plaintiff:** Tempo Music Investments, LLC (owner of a share of the copyright in "When I Was Your Man" via acquisition of songwriter Philip Lawrence's catalog) **Defendant:** Miley Cyrus; co-writers Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack; publishers Sony Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., and related entities; distributor/retailer defendants including Sony Music Entertainment, Apple Inc., iHeartMedia, Amazon, Spotify/Pandora/Deezer/Tidal/SoundCloud/Xandrie, Live Nation, Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and Disney Platform Distribution **Core allegation:** Miley Cyrus's 2023 Grammy-winning hit "Flowers" unlawfully copies multiple protected elements of Bruno Mars's 2013 chart-topper "When I Was Your Man," including the verse's melodic pitch design and sequence, the connecting bass-line, chorus bars, theatrical music elements, lyrical elements, and specific chord progressions. Defendants reproduced, distributed, and commercially exploited "Flowers" without authorization from Tempo, a copyright co-owner of the infringed work. **Asserted IP:** - Musical composition "When I Was Your Man" (Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, et al., 2013) —…

AI-generated from the filed complaint. Always verify against the original document.

Coverage vs realityPress: plaintiff

Coverage: 80P · 45D · 68N

Press coverage leans plaintiff-favorable; no court ruling has been classified yet.

Coverage breakdown — the headlines behind the meter

80 plaintiff-favorable · 45 defendant-favorable · 68 neutral

Plaintiff-favorable

Miley Cyrus ‘Flowers’ Case Must Go to Trial, Her Accusers Say: ‘Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire’Billboard · 2026-03-25
Miley Cyrus Can’t Escape Copyright Lawsuit Over “Flowers”The Fashion Law · 2025-03-24
Judge denies Miley Cyrus' attempt to dismiss lawsuit comparing 'Flowers' to Bruno Mars songFOX 13 Tampa Bay · 2025-03-21
Miley Cyrus must face lawsuit over claims she copied Bruno MarsBusinessWorld Online · 2025-03-21

Defendant-favorable

Miley Cyrus Seeks Dismissal of ‘Flowers’ Copyright LawsuitHipTV · 2026-02-25
“Merely a commonplace ‘circle of fifths’ chord progression”: Miley Cyrus’s lawyers bring music theory to the fore in a fresh attempt to show that her hit song Flowers doesn’t copy Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your ManMusicRadar · 2026-02-25
Miley Cyrus asks court to dismiss ‘Flowers’ copyright case, calling similarities to Bruno Mars hit ‘commonplace’ and unprotectableMusic Business Worldwide · 2026-02-25
Miley Cyrus Wants ‘Flowers’ Case Over Bruno Mars Song Dismissed: ‘No One Owns These Words’billboard.com · 2026-02-24

Coverage sentiment vs. docket activity over time

Counsel of record

For the defendant

Davis Wright Tremaine LLPAlexandra Perez Cadena, Eric H Lamm, Peter J. Anderson

Other counsel (amici, etc.)

Willkie Farr and Gallagher LLPAlex M. Weingarten, Amy S Stern, Emily Horak +1 more
Independent counselRafael Carlos Santos

Court: U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Docket no.: 2:24-cv-07910
Nature of suit: Copyright
Judge: Monica Ramirez Almadani
Filed: 2024-09-16
Last filing: 2026-07-16

Cause

17:101 Copyright Infringement

Entities in this case

Miley Cyrus Tempo Music Investments

Parties

Does Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc. Sony Music Publishing US LLC Disney Platform Distribution, Inc. Walmart Inc. Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC Target Corp. Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. Xandrie SA Tidal Music LLC Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG Amazon.Com Services LLC Deezer S.A. Pandora Media, LLC iHeartMedia, Inc. Apple Inc. Sony Music Entertainment MCEO, Inc. Wide Eyed Global These Are Pulse Songs

Docket entries

#1332026-05-07
OPPOSITION to EX PARTE APPLICATION for Order for Granting Leave To File: (1) Evidentiary Objections To Defendants Reply Declarations; (2) Response To Defendants Evidentiary Objections Filed With Their Reply; And (3) Response In Support Of Plaintiffs Statement Of Ad 132 filed by Defendants Amazon.Com Services LLC, Apple Inc., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Miley Cyrus, Deezer S.A., Disney Platform Distribution, Inc., Droog Publishing, Gregory Hein, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., MCEO Publishing, MCEO, Inc., Pandora Media, LLC, Michael Pollack, Songs By Gregory Hein, Songs With A Pure Tone, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing US LLC, Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Target Corp., These Are Pulse Songs, Tidal Music LLC, Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC, Walmart Inc., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., What Key Do You Want It In Music, Wide Eyed Global, Xandrie SA, iHeartMedia, Inc.. (Anderson, Peter) (Entered: 05/07/2026)
#1322026-05-05
EX PARTE APPLICATION for Order for Granting Leave To File: (1) Evidentiary Objections To Defendants Reply Declarations; (2) Response To Defendants Evidentiary Objections Filed With Their Reply; And (3) Response In Support Of Plaintiffs Statement Of Additional Uncontroverted Facts filed by Plaintiff Tempo Music Investments, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Amy M. Stern, # 2 Exhibit 1 (Proposed Evidentiary Objections), # 3 Exhibit 2 (Proposed Response to Evidentiary Objections), # 4 Exhibit 3 (Proposed Response in Support of PAUF), # 5 Exhibit 4 (Email Correspondence), # 6 Proposed Order Granting Leave to File) (Weingarten, Alex) (Entered: 05/05/2026)
#1312026-05-05
DECLARATION of Alex M. Weingarten in support of NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Reports and Testimony of Lawrence Ferrara 112, NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Report and Testimony of Steven Winogradsky 110, NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Reports and Testimony of Matthew BaileyShea 111 filed by Plaintiff Tempo Music Investments, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit CCC (Winogradsky Dep. Tr.), # 2 Exhibit DDD (Ricigliano Dep. Tr.), # 3 Exhibit EEE (Rovin Dep. Tr.))(Weingarten, Alex) (Entered: 05/05/2026)
#1302026-05-05
REPLY in support of NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Reports and Testimony of Lawrence Ferrara 112 filed by Plaintiff Tempo Music Investments, LLC. (Weingarten, Alex) (Entered: 05/05/2026)
#1292026-05-05
REPLY in support of NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Reports and Testimony of Matthew BaileyShea 111 filed by Plaintiff Tempo Music Investments, LLC. (Weingarten, Alex) (Entered: 05/05/2026)
#1282026-05-05
REPLY in support of NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Report and Testimony of Steven Winogradsky 110 filed by Plaintiff Tempo Music Investments, LLC. (Weingarten, Alex) (Entered: 05/05/2026)
#1272026-04-21
NOTICE OF LODGING Pro Se Motion to Intervene as of Right filed by Intervenor Rafael C Santos (es) (Entered: 05/05/2026)
#1262026-04-21
MEMORANDUM in Opposition to NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Reports and Testimony of Lawrence Ferrara 112 filed by Defendants Amazon.Com Services LLC, Apple Inc., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Miley Cyrus, Deezer S.A., Disney Platform Distribution, Inc., Droog Publishing, Gregory Hein, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., MCEO Publishing, MCEO, Inc., Pandora Media, LLC, Michael Pollack, Songs By Gregory Hein, Songs With A Pure Tone, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing US LLC, Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Target Corp., These Are Pulse Songs, Tidal Music LLC, Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC, Walmart Inc., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., What Key Do You Want It In Music, Wide Eyed Global, Xandrie SA, iHeartMedia, Inc.. (Anderson, Peter) (Entered: 04/21/2026)
#1252026-04-21
MEMORANDUM in Opposition to NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Reports and Testimony of Matthew BaileyShea 111 filed by Defendants Amazon.Com Services LLC, Apple Inc., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Miley Cyrus, Deezer S.A., Disney Platform Distribution, Inc., Droog Publishing, Gregory Hein, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., MCEO Publishing, MCEO, Inc., Pandora Media, LLC, Michael Pollack, Songs By Gregory Hein, Songs With A Pure Tone, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing US LLC, Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Target Corp., These Are Pulse Songs, Tidal Music LLC, Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC, Walmart Inc., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., What Key Do You Want It In Music, Wide Eyed Global, Xandrie SA, iHeartMedia, Inc.. (Anderson, Peter) (Entered: 04/21/2026)
#1242026-04-21
MEMORANDUM in Opposition to NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude the Report and Testimony of Steven Winogradsky 110 filed by Defendants Amazon.Com Services LLC, Apple Inc., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Miley Cyrus, Deezer S.A., Disney Platform Distribution, Inc., Droog Publishing, Gregory Hein, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., MCEO Publishing, MCEO, Inc., Pandora Media, LLC, Michael Pollack, Songs By Gregory Hein, Songs With A Pure Tone, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing US LLC, Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Target Corp., These Are Pulse Songs, Tidal Music LLC, Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC, Walmart Inc., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., What Key Do You Want It In Music, Wide Eyed Global, Xandrie SA, iHeartMedia, Inc.. (Anderson, Peter) (Entered: 04/21/2026)
#1232026-04-21
REPLY in Support of NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION to Exclude 101 filed by Defendants Amazon.Com Services LLC, Apple Inc., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Miley Cyrus, Deezer S.A., Disney Platform Distribution, Inc., Droog Publishing, Gregory Hein, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., MCEO Publishing, MCEO, Inc., Pandora Media, LLC, Michael Pollack, Songs By Gregory Hein, Songs With A Pure Tone, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing US LLC, Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Target Corp., These Are Pulse Songs, Tidal Music LLC, Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC, Walmart Inc., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., What Key Do You Want It In Music, Wide Eyed Global, Xandrie SA, iHeartMedia, Inc.. (Anderson, Peter) (Entered: 04/21/2026)
#1222026-04-21
REPLY in Support of NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION for Summary Judgment 100 filed by Defendants Amazon.Com Services LLC, Apple Inc., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Miley Cyrus, Deezer S.A., Disney Platform Distribution, Inc., Droog Publishing, Gregory Hein, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., MCEO Publishing, MCEO, Inc., Pandora Media, LLC, Michael Pollack, Songs By Gregory Hein, Songs With A Pure Tone, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing US LLC, Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Target Corp., These Are Pulse Songs, Tidal Music LLC, Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC, Walmart Inc., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., What Key Do You Want It In Music, Wide Eyed Global, Xandrie SA, iHeartMedia, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Response to Plaintiff's Statement of Genuine Disputes, # 2 Response to Plaintiff's Statement of Additional Uncontroverted Facts, # 3 Defendants' Evidentiary Objections, # 4 Responses to Plaintiff's Evidentiary Objections, # 5 Declaration of Matthew BaileyShea, # 6 Declaration of Peter Anderson, # 7 Exhibit 19, # 8 Exhibit 20, # 9 Exhibit 21, # 10 Exhibit 22, # 11 Exhibit 23)(Anderson, Peter) (Entered: 04/21/2026)
#1212026-04-13
ORDER GRANTING Second Stipulation Requesting Extension of Summary Judgment Related Deadlines 120 by Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani, The hearings on Defendants' Motions 100 101 and Plaintiffs Motions 110 111 112 are continued from 5/5/2026, at 10:00 AM., to 5/26/2026 at 10:00 AM. (jp) (Entered: 04/13/2026)
#1202026-04-09
Second STIPULATION for Order Extending Summary Judgment Related Deadlines filed by Defendants Amazon.Com Services LLC, Apple Inc., Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc., Miley Cyrus, Deezer S.A., Disney Platform Distribution, Inc., Droog Publishing, Gregory Hein, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., MCEO Publishing, MCEO, Inc., Pandora Media, LLC, Michael Pollack, Songs By Gregory Hein, Songs With A Pure Tone, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing US LLC, Soundcloud Global Limited & Co. KG, Target Corp., These Are Pulse Songs, Tidal Music LLC, Wal-Mart.Com USA, LLC, Walmart Inc., Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., What Key Do You Want It In Music, Wide Eyed Global, Xandrie SA, iHeartMedia, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Eric Lamm, # 2 Proposed Order)(Lamm, Eric) (Entered: 04/09/2026)
#1192026-03-30
SEALED DOCUMENT Exhibits to Declarations of Sharp and Weingarten in Support of Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment re MEMORANDUM in Opposition to Motion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 108, Order on Motion for Leave to File Document Under Seal 114 filed by Plaintiff Tempo Music Investments, LLC. (Attachments: # 1 UNDER SEAL - Exhibit A to Decl. of Bradley Sharp Sharp Expert Report, # 2 UNDER SEAL - Exhibit R to Decl. of Weingarten - Gregory Hein Depo Transcript, # 3 UNDER SEAL - Exhibit S to Decl. of Weingarten - Michael Pollack Depo Transcript, # 4 UNDER SEAL - Exhibit T to Decl. of Weingarten - Miley Cyrus Depo Transcript)(Weingarten, Alex) (Entered: 03/30/2026)
#1182026-03-30
NOTICE OF ERRATA filed by Plaintiff Tempo Music Investments, LLC. correcting MEMORANDUM in Opposition to Motion,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 108 Correcting Attachment 24 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Declaration of Alex M. Weingarten I/S/O Opposition to MSJ, etc. - Corrected)(Weingarten, Alex) (Entered: 03/30/2026)
#1172026-03-30
ORDER DEEMING Filed as of 3/24/2026 ECF Nos. [ 108 - [ 113 ] Filed by Plaintiff Tempo Secured Music Rights Collateral, LLC 115 by Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani. See document for further information. (jp) (Entered: 03/30/2026)
2025-10-16
No description on file
2025-06-02
No description on file
2025-01-23
No description on file

Docket history from CourtListener/RECAP — most recent first.

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View on CourtListener →Open in feed →Last updated 2026-07-16

Summary