The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has taken legal action against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four individuals, including its Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, over alleged copyright infringement.
The charges, filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, revolve around the unauthorized use of musical works belonging to artist Maleke Idowu Moye.
According to the NCC, the defendants are accused of offering for sale, selling, and trading musical works of Maleke without his consent between 2010 and 2017. These works were allegedly used as Caller Ring Back Tunes without proper authorization.
The musical pieces in question include popular tracks such as “911,” “Minimini-wanawana,” and “Stop racism,” among others.
The commission further alleges that the defendants distributed these musical works to subscribers without authorization, infringing upon the rights of the artist.
The charges are based on provisions of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
As the case awaits assignment to a judge and a fixed date for mention, it marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to uphold copyright protection in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
This legal action underscores the NCC’s commitment to safeguarding the intellectual property rights of artists and creators within the country.
MTN Nigeria, a major player in the telecommunications industry, now faces a legal battle that could have broader implications for how intellectual property rights are respected and enforced within Nigeria’s digital landscape.