NIGERIAN MUSICIANS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF COSON HAVE FILLED A N10 BILLION NAIRA SUIT AGAINST
DOKPESI’S RAY POWER & AIT IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS AFRICA’S BIGGEST COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT ACTION
Copyright Society of
Nigeria (COSON), Nigeria’s government approved collective management
organization for musical works and sound recordings, who collects royalties on
behalf of Nigerian musicians, has filed a Ten Billion naira copyright
infringement action against Daar Communications Plc, Nigeria’s biggest
privately owned broadcast network which operates stations such as Ray Power FM,
Faaji FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT) scattered all over Nigeria.
The suit No. FHC/L/CS/1392/13 filed on October 7, 2013 on behalf of COSON at
the Federal High Court, Lagos by crack Intellectual Property lawyer, Mr. Justin
Ige, is the biggest known copyright infringement action ever in the African
continent.
In the action, COSON
on behalf of Nigerian musicians is asking for the sum of N724, 500, 000. 00
(Seven Hundred and Twenty Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) being
amount due as royalties or license fees.
COSON is also asking
for general and exemplary damages and a perpetual injunction restraining Ray
Power FM, Faaji FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT) managed by Chief
Raymond Dokpesi, their agents, privies or servants from further or other
unauthorized copying, broadcast of musical works or sound recordings belonging
to the members, affiliates and assignors of COSON and/or infringement of the
copyright in the musical works or sound recordings belonging to the members,
affiliates and assignors of COSON.
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