A Nigerian musician and entertainer, Veno Marioghae- Mbanefo, has threatened to sue telecommunications company, Airtel, over the unauthorised use of her over 37-year-old hit \u201cNigeria Go Survive.\u201d<\/p>\n
The veteran singer via her lawyer, R.A Igelige for Felix and Igelige & Associates, has slammed the telecom giant for using her song to promote and advertise a music reality show \u201cThe Voice Nigeria\u201d which the brand currently sponsors.<\/p>\n
This was contained in a protest letter dated April 14 and made available to PREMIUM TIMES.<\/p>\n
She is demanding the sum of N50 million for the unauthorised commercial and also derogatory use of the music veteran\u2019s work.<\/p>\n
The song
\nMrs Mariohae-Marioghae\u2019s hit song \u2018Nigeria Go Survive, released in 1984, was an anthem back in the day.<\/p>\n
Released under Tabansi Records imprint, it was described as a song of hope in a country reeling under the effects of massive corruption, infrastructure decay and brain drain.<\/p>\n
The late Nollywood icon Enebeli Elebuwa was featured in the video as Andrew wanted to check out of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The Protest letter
\nAccording to the protest letter, the giant telecommunications network had infringed on Mrs Mariohae-Marioghae, by using her song \u201d Nigeria Go Survive\u201d without the permission of the singer, which amounts to stealing and willful deprivation.<\/p>\n
The statement of the solicitor reads:<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Client is the author and copyright owner of the musical work entitled \u201cNigeria Go Survive\u201d being used by your Mobile Network Company (Airtel) to promote your TV app, and also to Voice Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the copyright owner of the above-mentioned musical work, our Client has several exclusive rights defined by the Copyright Act, Cap 28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. These include the right to reproduce the works, and to publish and communicate same to the public (including by way, of sale and broadcast, both conventionally and online or via the Internet).\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an infringement of copyright to do any of these and other protected acts about the whole or a substantial part of a copyrighted work, or to authorize anyone to do such an act or acts on your behalf, without the permission or licence of the copyright owner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Client\u2019s attention has been drawn to your use, without permission or licence, of her aforementioned musical work. Specifically, you have appropriated the work to promote your TV app and also used it to advertise \u201cThe Voice Nigeria\u201d By not obtaining our Client\u2019s prior permission or licence before engaging repeatedly in this act or acts; your company\u2019s conduct is a flagrant and deliberate infringement of her copyright. It also amounts to stealing and wilful deprivation with the Intent to unjustly enrich your company and deny our Client of the legitimate fruits of her labour thereby inflicting hardship on her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Demands
\nAccording to the lawsuit, the solicitor is demanding that Airtel cease any further infringement on the copyright of Maroghae\u2019s \u2018Nigeria go survive\u2019 and also pay the sum of N50m for the unauthorised commercial and also derogatory use of her musical work.<\/p>\n
It gave Airtel an ultimatum of 21 days to comply with their demands, otherwise, they would be forced to take legal actions for injunctive relief, criminal charges and damages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The singer, through her lawyer, demanded the sum of N50 million for the unauthorised commercial and also derogatory use of her work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":6284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,16],"tags":[7,32,26],"class_list":{"0":"post-6287","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-music","8":"category-news","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-music","11":"tag-news"},"yoast_head":"\n