COSON FILES N10 BILLION NAIRA SUIT AGAINST DOKPESI’S RAY POWER & AIT IN AFRICA’S BIGGEST COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT ACTION

Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Nigeria’s government approved collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings has filed a Ten Billion naira copyright infringement action against DAAR Communications Plc, Nigeria’s biggest privately owned broadcast network which operates stations such as Ray Power FM, Faaji FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT) scattered all over Nigeria. The suit No. FHC/L/CS/1392/13 filed on October 7, 2013 on behalf of COSON at the Federal High Court, Lagos by crack Intellectual Property lawyer, Mr. Justin Ige, is the biggest known copyright infringement action ever in the African continent.

In the action, COSON is asking for the sum of N724, 500, 000. 00 (Seven Hundred and Twenty Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) being amount due as royalties or license fees.

COSON is also asking for general and exemplary damages and a perpetual injunction restraining Ray Power FM, Faaji FM and Africa Independent Television (AIT) managed by Chief Raymond Dokpesi, their agents, privies or servants from further or other unauthorized copying, broadcast of musical works or sound recordings belonging to the members, affiliates and assignors of COSON and/or infringement of the copyright in the musical works or sound recordings belonging to the members, affiliates and assignors of COSON.

The historic action is clearly in fulfilment of the pledge made by COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji in his ‘No Music Day’ speech on September 1, 2013 that in the copyright battle, there will be no sacred cow. Chief Okoroji had said, ‘COSON is determined to substantially increase the royalty distributable to stakeholders in the music industry to match the massive use of music in our nation. Last year, COSON was compelled to institute several law suits against some users of music and sound recordings in Nigeria. This was after every attempt at moral suasion had failed. COSON had to go to court as a last resort. As you know, the court actions were productive. It however appears that old habits die hard. Some of the users may have gone back to their old ways and not all have learnt the lesson that the days of free music are gone in Nigeria forever. Some may also be testing the resolve of COSON.

‘I therefore wish to make it clear that the resolve of COSON to protect the rights of music industry practitioners and to collect copyright royalties for the use of their music and sound recordings is rock solid. We will not waiver and there will be no sacred cows. Our commitment to the cause of defending the rights of music industry practitioners in Nigeria is unshaken and unshakable. Very soon, we will bring the full weight of the law on all those who have refused to learn that the times have changed. Let me assure you that our approach this time will be very different. I wish to state clearly that it is far cheaper to obtain a COSON licence for the music used by anyone than to engage COSON in an expensive law suit which that person is sure to lose because in this day and age, no court of law anywhere will enter a judgment to the effect that anyone can freely abuse the intellectual property of others’

Commenting on the development, COSON General Manager, Mr Chinedu Chukwuji said, ‘I don’t know why people have to wait until things come to a head like this. I guess the belief is that COSON is like some organizations that make noise without acting. At COSON, we are very professional. Our word is our bond. If we tell you that we will take action, we will take action and we will stay on the action till its logical conclusion. We have sworn to defend the rights of musicians and the music industry in Nigeria no matter what it takes. We have the law behind us; we have the musicians of Nigeria behind us; we have the international community behind us and we have God with us. Let it be known that we will not be intimidated by anyone’

NO RETREAT, NO SURRENDER AS NIGERIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY CELEBRATES 'NO MUSIC DAY' ON SEPTEMBER 1

STEADY GOVERNMENT POLICY: A MAJOR REASON FOR COSON SUCCESS - OKOROJ

Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria, the nation’s sole collective management organisation for musical works and sound recordings has identified the consistency in government policy with respect to copyright in recent times as a major reason for the significant success that COSON has scored.

Speaking on the recent historic reciprocal representation agreement between COSON and PRS for Music of United Kingdom, Chief Okoroji said government’s action through the NCC has further boosted the country’s copyright image the world over.

Chief Okoroji said “Before now, nobody was sure as to what the policy of the Nigeria government was with respect to copyright. There were mixed messages; the clear lack of policy somersault from the Nigeria Copyright Commission, NCC in recent years has given confidence to many in the international community to deal with Nigeria with certainty. Nigerian musicians are beneficiaries of the steady hand at the steering which Barr. Afam Ezekude, the NCC DG, and the Justice Minister, Mr. Mohammed Bello have provided”

Continuing, the COSON boss said “Every pressure that has been put on NCC to misinterpret or misrepresent the law has been resisted and it is our hope that other government officials will learn from this”

It would be recalled that since Monday August, 19, 2013, COSON has celebrated the signing of an agreement that will see the Nigerian collective Management Organization manage in Nigeria the extensive repertoire of world music controlled by PRS for Music while PRS for Music will ensure the collection of royalties on behalf of COSON, its members and affiliates for the use of Nigerian music in the UK and other territories where PRS operates directly or through its affiliates.

: CHAMPAGNE FLOWS AS COSON SIGNS BIG RECIPROCAL AGREEMENT WITH PRS OF LONDON

It was all laughter and back slapping at the Corporate Headquarters of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) this past week as the nation’s sole government approved collective management organization for music and sound recordings celebrated the landmark reciprocal representation agreement just signed between COSON and the United Kingdom based PRS for Music, probably the most respected CMO in the world.

The agreement formalizes the mandate to COSON to manage in Nigeria the extensive repertoire of world music controlled by PRS for Music while PRS for Music will ensure the collection of royalties on behalf of COSON, its members and affiliates for the use of Nigerian music in the UK and other territories where PRS operates directly or true its affiliates.

The details of the agreement negotiated over a period of two years were concluded during a recent visit to London by COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji who is elated by this watershed development and popped a few bottles of Champagne with COSON General Manager, Mr Chinedu Chukwuji to mark the occasion.

Reacting to the development, Chief Okoroji said ‘’the signing of the agreement between COSON and PRS for Music is proof that the world has taken notice of the significant progress COSON has made with respect to the collective management of copyright in Nigeria. Nigerian artistes can now feel confident to churn out world hits knowing that wherever in the world their music is utilized, there is a worldwide network heavily protecting their interests’’

Also highly elated, Mr Efe Omorogbe, CEO Now musik and manager of several top Nigerian artistes such as 2Face Idibia, Timi Dakolo, J. Martins, Seyi Shay, Sunny Neji, Dammy Krane, Tunde & WunmiObe, etc said, ‘’This is wonderful! Many boasted that it could not be done. Now, it is done. Anyone who may have been trying a divide and rule tactics to thwart COSON must now come to the conclusion that the game is up. Let the music pay!’’

An ecstatic COSON General Manager, Mr Chinedu Chukwuji, who could not hide his joy said, ‘’My-o-my! This is an incredible development and an indication that it can only get better with collective management of copyright in Nigeria. Nobody can ask me again, ‘who controls the PRS repertoire in Nigeria?’ COSON does, FULLSTOP!’’

Besides the recent agreement signed on behalf of  PRS for Music by Ms Kareen Buse, Managing Director, PRS for Music International and Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman COSON, COSON has also signed reciprocal representation agreements with several other CMOs in different parts of the world and today possesses the fastest growing global collective management network in Africa.

DIGITAL MUSIC SUMMIT TAKES BOLD STEPS IN NIGERIA

It was a watershed event on Monday, August 12, 2013 as the key players in the Nigerian music industry and associated stakeholders got together at Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja to have a no-holds-barred conversation on the future of the Nigerian music industry in the digital environment. The event was the 1^st Nigerian Digital Music Licensing Summit and anyone present at the overflowing meeting room at Protea Hotel would have noticed the passion with which every participant spoke and the resolve of the top players in the Nigerian music industry to seize the bull by the horn.
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Present at the event organized under the auspices of the Nigerian Music Industry Coalition and coordinated by Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) were some of the nation’s best known Intellectual Property lawyers such as Mr. Afam Nwokedi, Managing Partner, Stillwaters Law Firm; Mr. Femi Fajolu, Managing Partner, Chief G. O. Sodipo & Co; Mr. Mena Ajakpovi, Managing Partner, Abraham & Co and Ms. Olufimilola Banjo of Olajide Oyewole & Co. Also present were representatives of the major telephone networks and value added service providers and aggregators such as Mr. Victor Bannerman, Head of VAS, Airtel; Mr. Godwin Oriazowanlan, Head of VAS, GLO; Mr. Nnamdi Agwunobi, Managing Director, Greenbee Communications; Mr. Lawrence Wilbert, Managing Director, Agitent Wireless; Mr. Simon Aderinola, National Coordinating Consultant, Wireless Application Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN) and Mr. Gbolahan Awonugu, representative of Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).

At the event masterfully moderated by COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji, the Heads of the key music labels and music publishing companies were also heavily in the mix: Mr. Audu Maikori, Managing Director, Chocolatecity Group; Mr. Efe Omorogbe, Chief Executive Officer, Nowmuzik; Mr. Toju Ejueyitchie, Managing Director Premier Records and Premier Music Publishing, a former chairman, Nigerian Association of Recording Industries (NARI) and Mr. Alec Godwin, Managing Director, Alec Entertainment. Spinlet Nigeria was represented by Mr. Mark Redguard, Chief Marketing Officer and Ms. Nkiru Balonwu, Head, Legal. The Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission was represented by Mr. Obi Ezeilo.
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The Summit reached a resolve that urgent steps be taken to align the music industry in Nigeria with developments in other parts of the developed world in the digital space. It was also decided that to protect investments of stakeholders in the industry, necessary action must be taken to ensure that henceforth the rights and obligations of every stakeholder must be understood and respected. The Summit also resolved that action be taken for continuous education and retraining of stakeholders, judges charged with adjudicating intellectual property matters, legislators and regulatory officials.
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Because of the extensive use of Nigerian music across the world, it was decided that a strong database of the different right owners in music and related agreements and assignments be developed so as to make music licensing less cumbersome. It was also decided that a scheme be devised to immediately deal with the emerging scourge of unauthorized commercial offline digital download of popular music taking place in different Nigerian cities.
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The Summit rose with the setting up of a 14 member working committee which was given a 6 weeks mandate to articulate precise plans for addressing the issues raised at the Summit.
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Also at the summit were Mr. Joel Ajayi, National President, Music Label Owners Association of Nigeria, Engr. Sharon Wilson, National President, Music Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Laolu Akins, ace producer, Chinedu Chukwuji, General Manager, COSON who coordinated the event.
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Reacting to the events at the summit, Erelu Keji Okunowo, former CEO of Sony Music Nigeria, former Chairman, International Federation of Phonographic Industries and Managing Director of MasterSounds, said, “I must say that I am really really happy that the industry has gotten this far. I also must commend the effort of COSON. Education is an ongoing thing. We must continue to learn. So I came here today to learn and actually hear what the youth have to say. I am very glad that I can see the energy. I can see the intelligence. I can see that the zeal to be professional, to be doing the right thing and to ask that things should be done properly because Nigeria so far especially in our industry, we have lived in chaos and to see that there is that cry for us to regularize, to sanitize and to create platforms or template where things can be done better for future generation.”

COSON SONG AWARDS FOR NETWORK BROADCAST

The thrills, frills and razzmatazz of the full package of the much talked about COSON Song Awards held in May in Lagos will be seen by millions of TV viewers across Nigeria soon. Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) which hosted the ground breaking event is making final arrangements for the telecast across different television networks so that people all over Nigeria and beyond can see the spectacle that has been described by many using different superlatives.
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Speaking about the long awaited telecast, COSON General Manager, Mr Chinedu Chukwuji, said, ‘I am confident to say that the COSON Song Awards is not like any other award event ever held anywhere. There might have been two or three thousand persons lucky to have been at Lagos Oriental Hotel and who saw the COSON Song Awards live. Every other Nigerian owes it to himself to see this event which is a big statement in the history of creative productions and pain staking organization around the world. The approach is educative and informative. It is gripping, highly explosive and massively entertaining’.
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Mr. Efe Omorogbe, CEO of Nowmuzik and manager of 2Face Idibia, Dammy Krane and Seyi Shay, all of whom performed at the COSON Song Awards, said of the event. ‘Every Nigerian should get a DVD copy of the event. In my job, I have travelled around the world several times over and seen shows of all kinds, I am yet to see a show like the COSON Song Awards so intricately woven with nostalgia and history and soaked in high octane entertainment. It is clearly different. I am proud that the top artistes that I manage took part in the show. To think that the COSON Song Awards was designed and presented by a completely Nigerian team is something that every Nigerian ought to be proud of. No one should miss the broadcast’
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Top singer, Azeezat who witnessed the event said, ‘Truly, the only way to describe the COSON Song Awards is wow! Chief Tony Okoroji who produced this event has redrawn the map and redefined the way such an event is choreographed. Anyone planning such events in future must first watch the COSON Song awards and then think deeply. The stage, the lights, the music, the narrative and the integration of the different elements are breath taking. The COSON Song Awards is a collector’s item and a piece of history and I cannot wait to have a DVD copy for keeps’
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Mr Patrick Doyle Jnr, one if the four crack video editors and animators who worked night and day for months to put together the spectacle that is the COSON Song Awards, said, ’I have watched the video of the COSON Song Awards and I am very proud of what we have done. Working with Chief Tony Okoroji is an experience like no other. He has a prodigious creative ability, never satisfied and simply tireless. He will break every existing production rule and create his own. He is not afraid to try previously untried ideas. He asks you to do something and at first thought what he has asked you to do is impossible. He will ask you to do it any way. Nearly all the time, he is right. With him, nothing is impossible! He is a master at assembling a large team and inspiring the team to achieve heights the members thought were unachievable. You cannot work with a man like that without your perspective changing. Mine has. I have never had to work so hard on any project in my life. I cannot wait for the reaction of Nigerians when they see the COSON Song Awards on TV. I believe that we have made history!’

COSON WAR ON ROYALTY DEFAULTERS: ‘WE MEAN BUSINESS’ –CHUKWUJI

"Those who are wise are working with COSON and have no problem. Those who are recalcitrant will pay a huge price. I have no choice but to execute the directive of my Board. Our teams of lawyers and the law enforcement agencies are being briefed. We mean business’’.

COSON MUSIC FOUNDATION MOURNS FATAI ROLLING DOLLAR

                                                   

The Nigerian music industry was on Wednesday June 12, 2013 thrown into mourning as the news broke of the demise of one of its oldest music legends, Pa. Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju aka Fatai Rolling Dollar as the octogenarian finally yielded to the cold hands of death after a brief battle with illness.

Known for his popular hit track,'Won Keresi' among several others, Pa Rolling Dollar was  until his death one of the faces of the popular herbal drink, Yoyo Bitters. He was also one of the foremost members of Copyright Society Of Nigeria, (COSON) and his song 'Won Keresi' was celebrated as one of the great songs of the 60’s at the recently held COSON Song Awards.

Expressing his shock at the news, Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman Copyright Society of Nigeria who is presently on official duty outside the country called in to say, ‘Just before leaving the country, I had been given a hint by a mutual friend, Mr. Niyi Ojemakinde, the radio personality, that Pa Fatai Rolling Dollar was in hospital. I had so badly wanted to go and see him but there was just no time. He was a legend, a fantastic person with a very positive attitude to life who treated everyone with courtesy. I believe that his attitude to life was responsible for the long life he lived and that should be a lesson for us all. He was committed to the unity of the Nigerian music industry and never missed any meeting of COSON. He will be missed by a lot of people whom he inspired. COSON will ensure that Fatai Rolling Dollar is immortalized’

Speaking on the sad event, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji, General Manager, COSON said the octogenarian’s exit is indeed a very sad one for our rapidly growing music industry.
“It is indeed very sad to hear of the death of Pa Fatai Rolling Dollars whom as you well know is a frontline member of COSON and a major stakeholder in our music industry. It is a sad moment for the industry and we say may his soul rest in peace.”

Continuing he said “
The death of Pa Rolling Dollar is more painful at this point in the history of the development of our industry that his fatherly counsel and wealth of experience would be needed. He has been a great source of encouragement to so many of us especially the younger artistes, that if you remain focused on your game, it will pay off at the end of the day. And one other thing he epitomizes is that good music and good stage craftmanship will always excel. You will recall that his hit tract, “Won Keresi” was one of the songs nominated at the just held COSON Song Awards for the 10 best songs of the 60s. That explains the quality of the composition. Again may his soul rest in peace”

The illness which began after his American tour was said to have confined him to the bed after he complained of pains in his legs. Said to have been in the hospital for a brief period, Pa Rolling Dollar was reported to have been in a coma; news that was vehemently denied; with family members confirming that he was recuperating.

Pa. Fatai Olayiwola Olagunju aka Fatai Rolling Dollar was born on the 22nd July 1926 to the family of late Chief Olagunju in Ede, Osun State. He started his musical career in 1953 and has trained many professional musicians, such as Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, late Dr. Orlando Owoh, Bob Aladeniyi amongst others. He was one of the oldest musicians still playing active music at the age of 86. He is one of the pioneers of the Juju music genre in Nigeria.

PURE MAGIC AT THE COSON SONG AWARDS

For several months, public service announcements in the Nigerian media had repeatedly said that the only way to describe the COSON Song Awards is wow! Last Saturday the crème of the Nigerian society and the toast of Nigerian entertainment dressed to the hilt, congregated at the New Ballroom of Lagos Oriental Hotel. They came to see at first-hand what the much advertised show, the climax of the unprecedented seven events of the COSON Week, had to offer. Despite the massive expectation, it is safe to say that no one was ready for what they saw. From the themed red carpet ‘fantastico’ to the show itself, it was pure magic. Many marvelled at the huge theatre of the COSON Song Awards, knowing that they had been part of genius and history.  No one left the event without saying ‘wow!’

SIR UWAIFO ON RED CARPET

The first spectacle that hit everyone who attended the event was the opulence and sheer splendour of the red carpet fantastico themed in crème silk at which Nigeria’s glitterati mingled and sipped cocktails while a thousand flashlights exploded from the paparazzi. Then the guests were ushered into the huge events arena by the beautiful hostesses selected after several weeks of a major series of contests of beauty and brains conducted by a celebrity cast made up of rap icon, Ruggedman, Queen Ure, Kween Onakala and Aisha Joy.

Everyone held their breadth when the lights went down in the auditorium. Without any announcement, Segun Obe, came on stage and took the audience through a sonorous rendition of Nigeria’s national anthem. The curtains opened, the insignia of the COSON Song Awards rose majestically on the stage crafted by the master of set designs, Italian trained Pat Nebo and the

MAJEK ON STAGE

real magic began. On the huge screen, a golden bird appeared, searching in the deep forest of creativity. When the bird found what it was looking for, it took off on a historic journey, flying and meandering through the streets of Lagos and the major landmarks of the city, dodging the vehicles in traffic. Nothing could stop the golden bird until it found its way into Victoria Island at nightfall and then flew into Oriental Hotel. Unto the stage of the New Ballroom, it perched on a metal gong, the musical instrument common to the peoples of Nigeria. Awoko, the nightingale had arrived!

ANNIE IDIBIA & AWOKO

The special bird, Awoko which had been sculpted as the distinct plaque of the COSON Song Awards by a young Yaba College of Technology graduate, Dare Adenuga, is the leading singing bird celebrated in many songs of Yoruba master songwriters. It is reputed to have out-of this-world lyrics and singing talent. In Yoruba mythology, when Awoko shows up, every other bird bows. What the audience had just seen of Awoko was video animation at its best. The animation was carefully executed over a month of day and night creative effort by another young Nigerian, Ademola Tajudeen. When Awoko perched on the gong, the audience responded in thunderous applause.

RHINO

Onto the stage came the host of the night, debonair Frank Edoho, the very popular host of TV quiz programme, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? When Frank walked in, the auditorium was practically on fire as the audience went into rapturous applause. Then on to the giant screen, the story of Nigerian social culture from the 60s woven delicately into the music of the times unfolded with nostalgia in an unforgettable way and everyone in the auditorium knew that they were part of history. The ten most memorable songs of the

60s were played back and the presenters, A list actor, Segun Arinze and FRCN’s Cordelia Okpei dramatically appeared from the bowels of the stage in a 60s Chevrolet Impala to present the Song of the 60s award won by Victor Uwaifo’s Joromi. The audience was clearly in awe. Once again, Tony Okoroji who one spectacular day in Nigeria’s showbiz history arrived the stage of the National Theatre from the roof, had wrought magic again!

Actor Kalu Ikeagwu and fast rising singer, Seyi Shay who presented the award of the Song of the 70s won by Prince Nico Mbarga’s Sweet Mother arrived in style in a Citroen D Super.

There were earth shattering performances by top artistes like Sunny Neji, 2Face Idibia, Solid Star, Seyi Shay, Iyanya and Majek Fashek. At the star studded event which will be talked about for many months were Sir Victor Uwaifo, Mike Okri, Pa Chris Ajilo, Orlando Julius, Victor

 

IYANYA ON STAGE

Uwaifo, Sir Shina Peters, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Bright Chimezie, Dayo ‘D1’ Adeneye, Dizzy K. Falola, Sunny Neji, Flavour, Righteous Man, Bracket, Zakky Adze, Queen Ure among many others. Also in attendance were Nollywood stars including Fred Amata, Segun Arinze, Patrick and Iretiola Doyle Jennifer Eliogu, Fidelis Duker, Kalu Ikeagwu, Beautiful Nubia, Annie Macaulay Idibia, newlywed Femi Brainard and media personality, Prince Bisi Olatilo among several others.

It was a night that set a new bar for the organization of entertainment events in Nigeria, a night not to be forgotten in a long time.

ALL HAIL THE COSON AWARDS STAGE

COSON SONGS AWARDS

SIR VICTOR UWAIFO BLESSING 2 FACE & BISI OLATILO IN A SMILE WITH MAJEK FASEK

THE HOST FRANK EDOHO & SUNNY NEJI BELOW

THE COSON SONGS AWARDS

THE COSON SONG AWARDS

SIR VICTOR UWAIFO @ COSON SONG AWARDS

.COSON @ THE MOSQUE

THURSDAY TABLE TENNIS FINAL

LAST WOMAN STANDING QUEEN URE