Cruzeiro faces music over Gabigol announcement | OneFootball

Cruzeiro has confirmed receiving an extrajudicial notice but denied ongoing legal proceedings regarding the use of a Milton Nascimento track in the announcement video for Gabigol’s signing, according to Lance. The issue centers on the use of "Clube da Esquina n°2," a song by Nascimento, Lô Borges, and Márcio Borges, as background music in an online video earlier this year, following Gabigol’s high-profile transfer from Flamengo.

While reports initially suggested that Milton Nascimento and Sony Music were pursuing a lawsuit against Cruzeiro for copyright infringement, the club clarified that no official suit has been filed. Instead, about six months ago, Cruzeiro received a formal notice alleging copyright violation because the music was used in the social media post introducing Gabigol to fans.

Cruzeiro’s position is that they did not breach copyright because the video in question was actually a joint post shared on Gabigol's personal profile, not solely produced by the club. They also stated that the music clip was selected from Instagram’s music library, a tool available to any user, which according to the club, automatically references and credits the original creators.

Nevertheless, the artists involved have signaled through representation that they consider the use of their work unauthorized and are seeking financial compensation. Sony is reportedly demanding damages for material losses, while Nascimento, Lô Borges, and Márcio Borges are each requesting 50,000 Brazilian reais for moral damages.

This incident is notable partly because of the longstanding ties between Nascimento and Cruzeiro. The club previously recognized Nascimento as an “international ambassador” and honored him following his retirement from the stage at Mineirão in 2022. Despite Nascimento’s affection for Cruzeiro, legal representatives argue that the use of his music—however brief or seemingly appropriate in a sporting context—still requires formal authorization and proper licensing.

Cruzeiro has yet to publicly indicate whether it will seek a settlement or continue to dispute the necessity of further permissions for the video. At the time of writing, the matter has not escalated to court proceedings, but the club has acknowledged an ongoing dialogue over the incident.

For Flamengo, Gabigol’s departure and the subsequent surrounding controversy may not have significant direct repercussions, but the episode provides another example of how football clubs must remain alert to intellectual property rights, even when engaging in seemingly routine transfer announcements and marketing activity. (Source: Lance)

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