Why COSON’s Sledge Hammer Fell On Etisalat!

The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) which claims to be fully committed to its recent pledge of total showdown with copyright infringers and music copyright royalty defaulters in the country, has slammed a law suit of N11 billion against the Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Ltd, parent company of ETISALAT.

The case which was brought before the Federal High Court in Lagos is for copyright infringement against the company in some of its programmes including the ‘’Experience’’, ‘’Flagship’’, ‘’Road Shows’’ and a host of others in Nigeria.

The copyright collecting management organisation is also demanding for an account of all profits made by Etisalat, its agents, privies and servants from the infringements of copyright in music belonging to COSON, its members, affiliates and assignors.

COSON is also asking, with 20 distinct claims endorsed on the writ supported by a 45-paragraph Statement of Claim filed by its counsel, Tochukwu Tagbo, for a perpetual injunction restraining Etisalat, its agents, privies and servants from the continued unauthorised copying, communication to the public, streaming, selling, and permitting same to the public.

‘’Anybody who still thinks that COSON is joking needs to have his or head examined. We are committed to stamping out the era of ‘’monkey dey work, baboon dey chop’’ from the Nigerian music industry and establish a transparent industry in which everyone who invests his talent or resources can be rest assured of its protection…’’ Tony Okoroji,  the Chairman stated.