Miley Cyrus’s legal team has moved for summary judgment in the copyright case over Flowers, arguing there is no substantial similarity to Bruno Mars’s When I Was Your Man and that any overlap falls under fair use.

The defense notes public perception of Flowers as an answer song and addresses this framing in the filing.

They contend Flowers is an original work, deny intentional copying, and emphasize fair use centers on how a reasonable observer might view the work as commentary on the original.

The case remains active after a prior motion to dismiss was denied, with discovery proceeding and substantive arguments ahead.

Cyrus teased a Hannah Montana 20th anniversary TV special for Disney+ set to debut on March 24, signaling ongoing promotional activity tied to her legacy.

Reporting notes connect the legal battle with Cyrus’s nostalgic projects and legacy promotions.

Earlier, Cyrus sought to dismiss on standing grounds, a motion that was denied, allowing the case to move forward.

Tempo alleges that multiple musical elements were borrowed, though the motion focuses on challenging the case on summary judgment rather than asserting a simple lyric overlap.

The federal case in Los Angeles remains active after a late-2024 motion to dismiss was denied, moving toward discovery and potential trial.

Public sightings of Cyrus in Malibu wearing a Hannah Montana wig have fed speculation about behind-the-scenes work on the anniversary special.

If summary judgment is denied, the case could go to trial, potentially impacting future rulings on answer songs and copyright in pop music.

The defense argues that themes like regret and reflection are standard in breakup songs and that broad emotional themes are not protectable by copyright.