Paul Play slams Etisalat with N200m copyright infringement lawsuit

Singer Paul Play Dairo has filed a N200m lawsuit against telecommunications company, Etisalat for using his song, Mosorire in its popular reality series, Nigerian Idol, without seeking his consent. In the suit filed at a Lagos High court and marked FHC/CS/581/2014, Optima Media Group was made co-defendant. Paul stated that the defendants had used his hit song, Mosorire, which he composed himself, to promote their TV show, Nigerian Idol in 2012 and 2013.

He alleged that during the course of the programme, a contestant was made to reproduce his song and sing it without his express permission as the owner of the song.

The court paper in part reads

"I am the copyright owner of the work named and tagged “Mosorire”, contained in my repertoire, exclusively for the jurisdiction of Nigeria and the authority or permission to exploit such work can only be obtained from me. However, the defendants being an organiser of a television reality show tagged, “Nigerian Idol” caused the use, adaptation and deployment of my said work titled, “Mosorire” on the said show without my consent, and which was broadcast to several millions of television viewers throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the rest of Africa for 2012 and 2013 editions.”

Paul Play said that as a singer and composer, he was entitled to an annual fee of N100m on the track. He said for having made use of his song without reaching out to him for permission, the defendants, Etisalat and Optima media group had made him loose some money while according to him, they "made gains and improved on their own brand image.”. No date has been fixed for the hearing.

Source: Punch