Miley Cyrus, Bruno Mars Songs’ Parallels Sit at Heart of IP Case

A lawsuit accusing Miley Cyrus of infringing the copyright of Bruno Mars’ 2013 piano ballad “When I Was Your Man” with her hit “Flowers” a decade later centers on claims likely to keep the case kicking around in court.

Tempo Music Investments LLC’s lawsuit will have to prove Cyrus and “Flowers” co-writers Michael Pollack and Gregory Hein copied Mars’ track by showing “substantial similarity” between the songs.

There’s a high bar to demonstrate the extent to which the same protectable musical elements appear in both songs, and attorneys tracking the case said they’re skeptical of Tempo Music’s initial arguments citing ...