Sony Pictures Sues Nigerian Bank + Foreign Ent. News | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Saturday 26 July 2008

Sony Pictures Sues Nigerian Bank + Foreign Ent. News

Bank in Trouble for Format Theft
Sony Pictures and its local affiliates plan to sue a leading ECOWAS bank operating in Nigeria for plagiarizing its TV show format.

A senior employee working in the Corporate Communications department of a leading ECOWAS bank with Headquarters in Lome seems to have offhandedly initiated a proposal that could end up costing the bank a huge deal. It seems the bank is about to slug it out with one of the worlds leading media companies with a turnover of more than USD40 Billion per annum – Sony Pictures.

Formerly a UBA employee, the executive in question has been said to have effortlessly lured the Producers of a licensed Television franchise which was at the time being pitched to UBA to terminate talks with the Africa’s Global Bank (while still an employee there) and allow for her to take the format with her to new employers at this large ECOWAS bank with its Nigerian headquarters in Victoria Island.

Further to unsuccessfully convincing the Producers, she embarked up a self-seeking mission to copy the idea and rename the show that now has something to do with ENTRPRENUERSHIP. Having self-commissioned this copied format for her new bank as senior brand executive, she forged on and got her superiors to put up money for the project.

Now the issue here is that Sony Pictures, who were initially anxious about entering the Nigeria TV terrain and Africa’s Global bank, who the lady-in-question formerly worked for, and the production company -the Producers of the original TV show (Dragons’ Den Nigeria) have now caught wind of the unscrupulous act and are now preparing to sue the bank for both devising and consenting to such a deceitful action, thus allowing the theft of intellectual property to proceed under its sponsorship and banner.

Sony Pictures have frantically sent down their representatives to Nigeria to look in these matters and have insisted that they intend to do all it takes to protect their intellectual property as these remain the currency of trade in the media world. Sony Pictures we gather would also go to the extent of severing ties with any television network affiliate of the show.

What this translates to is that any TV station involved in broadcasting the show would be blacklisted from accessing any content from Sony’s worldwide catalogue which includes blockbuster films, and primetime TV shows.

Meanwhile we hear the matter is being referred to the Nigerian Copyright Council and to the FRAPA –the world intellectual property copyright agency.
When contacted, the licensors of the show whose copyright has been infringed on expressed their distaste regarding the ongoing issue.

Source: http://www.jamesamuta.com/

WOW!!!
Anyone got a comment?

Ok, let's move from that to the foreign scene. Let me introduce to you, Milan Roskopf, from Slovakia

He's the Guinness World record man in power juggling
He sent me an email asking me to introduce him to you all. They read my blog in Slovakia? lol
Anyway, click here to see more of him...http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Milan+Roskopf&search_type=&aq=f

Hollywood highest earners


Will Smith banked an impressive $80 million – making him Hollywood's top money earner last year, according to a new ranking from Forbes.

Cameron Diaz made $50 million last year, the Shrek and What Happens in Vegas star was Tinsel Town's top-earning female.

Among the top 5 earners...
No 2. Johnny Depp, with a $72 million
N0 3. Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers, with $55 million each
No 4. Leonardo DiCaprio, with $55 million, rounded out the top five.

While Atonement leading lady Keira Knightley earned $32 million, and Jennifer Aniston pulled in $27 million.

In terms of media personalities, Oprah Winfrey's earnings last year was a staggering $275 million. As for other TV stars, Charlie Sheen was the top-earning male ($20 million), while Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl deposited $13 million, making her the top-ranking female.

Diddy is reportedly engaged to singer, Cassie.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is giving marriage a chance. The bachelor father of six is quietly telling close friends and family that he and singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura are heading to the chapel.
Poor Kim, she has three kids for him...

Chris Brown's Dance Reality TV Show
Chris Brown is set to enter the reality TV industry by launching his own dance competition series. The Kiss Kiss hitmaker frequently shows off his fancy footwork in his music videos and live performances, and now he is to give wannabe dancers a chance to strut their stuff on his forthcoming show.

The currently untitled project, which will focus on hip-hop and street dance culture, will see contestants go up against one another in a variety of dance-offs, with Brown choosing the winner of each round. Speaking of the programme, Brown says, “Dancing is more than just a way of moving, it’s a different expression of music. That’s what I want to focus on with this show.”

Later people!!!

Oh by the way, I got 25 beautiful dresses from Rukkies Boutique on 86, Bode Thomas, opp Mr Biggs, Surulere. They want to cloth me fully from now on. I'm such a lucky girl ain't I? I'm going to model some of the clothes for y'all to see how beautiful they are...
Now that I have all this clothes, I have to start going out eh?
Most probably will be at D'banj's album launch tomorrow. I know I'm def going to watch Hancock at the movies this weekend...
Whatelse am I doing that's not work related? Hmmmmmmmm...
Nothingelse, just working. Can't wait to take a holiday and do nothing but...wink!
See y'all later.
Kisses!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've always thought that many in Nigeria's entertainment industry ignore copyright laws. I hope it gets settled sha otherwise, some innocent pple will be out of their jobs.

Anonymous said...

Na wa o, so u get fans from Eastern europe too. The power of the internet.

I thought na only for hollywood dem they give free clothes/products to celebrities. Make you wear the outfits well o and promote the boutique very well too.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the wonderful world of entertainment. This will teach Nigerians that entertainment is global. All these thieving, lack not creative bone in their damn body banks

Anonymous said...

hey linda, how do I get tickets to ur show??

Sola Folowosele said...

MORE INFOM ABOUT LINDA'S SHOW.. WHATS IT ALL ABOUT? SOMEBODY TELL ME...

Anonymous said...

As sad as this is, I think it is about time that Nigerian entertaiment/movie/music industry is held responsible for this copy copy attitude. I think they should be held liable and a scape goat for others.

Anonymous said...

I envy you ma girl....carry go you are simply unique

Anonymous said...

Your reporting is appauling. "Unscrupulous act"? Have you found out BOTH sides of the lawsuit? A suit does not mean the plaintiff is right, have you considered that it could be a scare tactic?

The shows though similar are different enough to the point where the suit is bound to be thrown out.

Anonymous said...

You sound like one of the “other” copying bank's employees in “EKO”. . First you use the word ‘appalling’ (spelt wrong by the way)then ‘scare tactics’, afterwhich you go on to throw out the lawsuit (out of...your computer that is -kai). I think people & businesses in Nigeria should start to operate with some degree of integrity. I have heard about this story for a while now and you know what? There are some strong elements of truth to it, I am not saying more than that.

tommeh said...

Hey Linda,
This is the first time browsing 'ur blog, pretty kewl I must say. I have one, too. You should check it out. http://www.thompsonoyonmi.blogsppot.com
I hail from Nigeria but stay in the USA.

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