The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed
criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged
copyright infringement.
The charge with Number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the
Federal High Court, Abuja Division was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) on Monday.
The four other defendants in the case are; Karl Toriola,
the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria,
Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd. and Yahaya Maibe.
In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the
defendants, between 2010 and 2017 “offered for sale, sold and traded for
business’’, infringed musical works of an artist, Maleke Idowu Moye without his
consent and authorisation.
The Commission alleged that the defendants used musical
works and sound recordings of Maleke with subsisting copyright, as Caller Ring
Back Tunes, without the authorisation of the artiste.
The musical works and sound recordings of the musician
allegedly infringed upon included; 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop racism, Ewole,
911 instrumental, Radio, Low waist, and No bother.
The defendants were also alleged to have distributed the
musical works to their subscribers, without authorisation, thereby, infringing
on the rights of the artiste.
In the third count, the defendant were alleged to have
in their possession, other than for their private or domestic use, the musical
works and sound recordings of the artiste.
According to NCC, the alleged offences are contrary to
and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap.
C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The case is yet to be assigned to any judge and no date
has been fixed for mention.
Leave Comments