ENTERTAINMENT

Court Fines Glo, Airtel, 9mobile over copyright infringement on Okiki Bright musical work

 

Court Fines Glo

OpenLife Nigeria reports that a Federal High Court in Lagos on 9th July 2021 fined some telecommunication giants; 9mobile, Airtel, Globacom and others sum of N2 million over copyright infringement of Okiki Bright musical work Gbagbe Boshe Sele.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo delivered judgment in suit number :FHC/L/CS/1776/2017 in favour of Nigerian hip hop Artiste, Raji Mutiu Okiki popularly called Okiki Bright held that 9mobile, Airtel, Globacom and other infringed on the copyright of Okiki Bright for using his musical work titled Gbagbe Boshe Shele as a caller tune for commercial exploit without his consent and authorisation.

The court resolved that Okiki Bright and Oritsefemi are not co-owners of the song “Gba gbe boshe sele” saying featuring Oritsefemi in a song does not make Oritsafemi a co-owner of the said song.

The Plaintiff in his suit filed by his counsel, Alayo Akanbi prayed the court to declare him as the exclusive owner and original composer of the musical work titled Gbage Boshe Sele, and that unauthorized use of his song as caller tune by the telecommunications for commercial exploit without his authority amounts to an infringement on his copyright to the musical work.

Okiki Bright equally asked for monetary damages cumulatively against the defendants for infringing on his intellectual property.

In his statement of claim, the plaintiff averred that he paid the star Artiste, Oritsefemi Majemite Ekele to feature in his song in order to get more acceptability and that he was still working on promoting his song when people drew his attention to the fact that his song was now on caller tunes of some telecommunications companies.

Justice Oweibo awarded general and exemplary damages in the sum of N2 million and cost of N500, 000 each against the telecommunication companies and in favour of the Plaintiff.

While speaking with counsel to Okiki Bright, Alayo Akanbi commended the judge for a well-researched and sound judgment and said that the judgment will go long way to discourage intellectual property theft and wished that court should have awarded greater punitive damages against the Defendants as a deterrent.

On his part, Okiki Bright said the judge has passed the judgment in his favour but he was surprised about the award of damages in the meager sum of N2 million and that the amount cannot cater for his expenses since 2017 when the case started. In his words, ‘I am going to consult my lawyer my next of action.’
Source: Adeyemi Obadimu

 

Share This
Openlife Reporter

Recent Posts

ZENITH BANK REWARDS HACKATHON WINNERS WITH N77.5M CASH PRIZE AT ZENITH TECH FAIR 4.0

ZENITH BANK REWARDS HACKATHON WINNERS OpenLife Nigeria reports that a total sum of N77.5 million…

16 hours ago

Boost In Oil Production: NNPC’s Utapate Crude Grade Hits Global Oil Market As OML 13 Asset Eyes 80,000 bpd By End Of 2025

Boost In Oil Production OpenLife Nigeria reports that in a major boost for Nigeria’s crude…

2 days ago

Health, Insurance, Entrepreneurship Lectures To Take Centre Stage At NASRE’s End- Of-Year Supports To Journalists With Challenges

Health OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Association of Social and Resourceful Editors (NASRE) has…

3 days ago

We Are Building A New Police Free Of Corruption But Full Of Vigor, Determination To Serve—Argungu

We Are Building A New Police OpenLife Nigeria reports that the Police Service Commission today,…

3 days ago

Helen Paul Receives Georgia Citizen Award

 Helen Paul Receives Georgia Citizen Award     Popular entertainer and educationist, Prof Helen Paul…

4 days ago

FirstBank Hosts Inaugural China-Africa Interbank Association Forum; reiterates its commitment to promoting trade, financial cooperation and Economic Development

FirstBank Hosts   OpenLife Nigeria reports that FirstBank, the premier West African financial institution and…

4 days ago

This website uses cookies.