The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), last Friday, instituted a N12 billion law suit against Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Ltd, the parent company of Etisalat, at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Joined in the suit is Etisalat’s CEO, Matthew Willsher.
In the new suit no. FHC/L/C3/363/17, filed by Intellectual Property lawyer, Mr. Justin Ige, COSON not only asked the court for four different declarations of copyright infringement against Etisalat, it has also demanded that the company delivers up and forfeits to COSON all infringing copies of the Plaintiff’s musical works and of any articles or technologies in its possession.
With 14 distinct claims endorsed on the writ, COSON has also asked for a perpetual injunction restraining Etisalat, its agents, privies and servants from the continued unauthorized copying, communication to the public, streaming, selling, broadcasting, making available for downloading and permitting the unauthorized performance to the public and infringement of the copyright in the musical works belonging to members, affiliates and assignors of COSON.
The new suit comes after an earlier 11 Billion Naira suit filed in 2016 by COSON against Etisalat, was said by the trial judge in open court, to have been struck out inadvertently.
Speaking on the case, Tony Okoroji, the Chairman of COSON said; “We are committed to stamping out the era of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop from the Nigerian music industry and establishing a transparent and accountable industry in which everyone who invests his or her talent or resources can rest assured that his or her investment will be fully protected.”