The 31-year-old pop star has been accused of lifting the melody, harmony and chorus of Bruno Mars' 2012 hit When I Was Your Man by Tempo Music Investments, who claim to have a share in the latter tune, TMZ reports.
The lyrics are a paraphrase of Mars' song but because they were only similar ideas it was not necessary for him to be listed as a co-writer on Flowers.
"I can buy myself flowers," Cyrus's chorus goes. "Write my name in the sand. Talk to myself for hours. Say things you don't understand.
"I can take myself dancing. And I can hold my own hand. Yeah, I can love me better than you can."
Mars sings on his track: "That I should've bought you flowers and held your hand ... Now my baby's dancin', but she's dancin' with another man."
Cyrus won multiple awards for Flowers, including a Grammy for record of the year, but Tempo Music Investments insists she would not have received the accolades without When I Was Your Man.
"It is undeniable based on the combination and number of similarities between the two recordings that Flowers would not exist without When I Was Your Man," the firm told TMZ.
The company is not only seeking money from the former Disney star but wants her to be banned from performing the song.
Mars, 38, is not part of the lawsuit.
Flowers featured on Cyrus's album Endless Summer Vacation.
The chart-topping disco pop tune was rumoured to be a swipe at her ex-husband, 34-year-old actor Liam Hemsworth.
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