By Osagie Alonge
- Wazobia FM and COOL FM’s Evita Moussalli
The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has filed another N1bn copyright infringement lawsuit against Steam Broadcasting and Communications Limited, owners popular radio station COOL FM after filing the same lawsuit against sister station Wazobia FM two weeks ago.
Joined in the fresh lawsuit no. FHC/L/CS/683/12 filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos on 20TH June 2012 is the company’s CEO, Amin Moussalli and Chief Operating Officer, Evita Moussalli.
COSON says it’s asking for the award of more than two billion naira in unpaid royalties and damages against Cool FM, its owners and managers for the unauthorized copying, broadcast and infringement of the copyright in the musical works and sound recordings belonging to COSON members, affiliates and assignors.
The lawsuit which was filed by Lagos lawyer, Mr. Paul Enejo Edime of the firm of City Counsellors clearly follows the previous suit filed against Globe Broadcasting & Communications Ltd (owners of Wazobia FM).
Mails sent to Chief Operating Officer of Wazobia FM, Evita Moussalli were not immediately responded to. Moussalli had however commented on the first law suit, stating ‘We have already engaged our lawyers and as the matter is in court I choose not to comment’.
7 comments
Oh…i still dont understand why the COSON files this law suit….what the heck!……The Mousalli’s station play musical’s(for at least 3mins) and dont get paid for that but get paid for playing a 30secs advert….do they expect them to call that we wanna play your stuff,hmm!
God save us from mischievous claims
Hmmmn….Nigeria entertainment is heading somewhere I belive- Have we rewarded the labours of our artistes, heroes and heroins in the past? Fela and Victor Olaiya as revealed to me by the Baba’s of Nigerian music of the 60’s & 70’s era said according to Fela, “you play my music, you pay me.” Fela was an international musician that understood the rules of the game. That was why Fela’s (Afrobeat) and victor Olaiya’s (highlife) were not popular. Did they ask for too much? Foreign record labels had to relocate after a while (Indigenization policy of the 70’s, a different story for another day).
Guess what my people? Some musicians went behind to manipulate the process, lobby and beg. That was the genesis of piracy and the dearth of music and true musicians in Nigeria. These men were true to their acts and arts. The reverse side is the state of the current Nigeria music history and it has cheapened the quality of music we make now and musicians produce. We have great guys on the scene now though, especially the Naija hip-hop and Naija-flavour acts which I love so much. Also, Kudos to Uncle Benson Idonije for his constructive criticism on the path to direct our energies towards in the industry to remain a household name and pioneer in the history of World Music.
However, what obtains now is that cheap videos and music are constantly given so much hype because they could afford to bribe the process in the media stations and manipulate voting and rating. Well to ourselves be true. To the extent that Nigerian artistes go knock on the doors of pirates to pirate their works to gain popularity. Royalty is what the fathers of the industry are living and lived on. For example, the Peter King, Rex Lawson’s Estates, Haruna Ishola, Osita Osadebe, Tony Allen, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka etc…
Today, our dedicated musicians like Femi Kuti, Bright Gain, Lagbaja, Seyi Solagbade, Mike Aremu, Sunny Nneji, Stell Monye, Kola Ogunkoya, Kayode Olajide and others serious acts that are putting Nigeria on a strong front for future music references are getting tired of the whole dilemma. So much goes into composing, arranging, recording and PRACTICING but, the reward for labour here is been mesmerized. The radio and tv stations expect the musicians to pay for “doing the musicians the favour of using their music to sell their ownmarkets?” It’s unbearable and never done anywhere. We can’t continue to promote fraudulent acts. Image a 1 hour radio or tv programme without music? The wheel is turning for the best for Nigerian musicians.
A piece of advice: YOUNG ACTS SHOULD THINK OF OLD AGE OR A FUTURE OF IN-ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH ACTIVE PERFOMANCES. However, optimistic you could be, a reality is always attached to positive desires, the “what if” factor. Leveraging on active and passive income is a reality.
Finally, do we honestly reward labour in Nigeria????
Why are they doing this?in 9ja if radio stations dont play dis musics,how will d artistes sell.artists are the ones even beggin dis stations to play their cds.
I knw sum of U dnt undastand it but let me tel u, in other parts of the world it is illegal to play music on radio without the permission of D artiste or copy right owner, in America all the artistes get paid each time their songs are played on radio cos that’s one d ways they make their money, A radio station cannot Run without music so they need to pay d piple who make d music it is D copy right law they ar talkin about, it is not COSON dat formed it but it is LAW, if they don’t play music on radio they wil be no radio station cos u cannot be playin advert every day or jst talkin all day, but there ar many ways artist can be known without radio, Timaya first album did not get radio play until he became popular on D streets before radio started lookin for Him , so good music will always promote it self. Thanks
Hmmm.my 9ja, pls lets do the right thing, is high time we admitt the fact an let go of the piracy in this country.
We know about the copyright laws and all, but the main question is… What exactly did cool fm do? What did they copy that was unauthorized?? Whose musical recordings did they broadcast unauthorized??? All they can say is that they are being sued for the unauthorized copying, broadcast and infringement of the copyright in the musical works and sound recordings belonging to COSON members, affiliates and assignors. Mtchew!