Copyright Commission sues MTN over infringement

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against mobile phone giant, MTN and its Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman, over alleged copyright infringement.

The charge with number ABJ/CR/379/2015 filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja was obtained by The media on Friday.

In the two-count-charge signed by NCC Prosecutor and Copyright Inspector, Marypauline Olere-Luma; MTN and Moolman were alleged to have infringed on copies of the musical work of an Abuja-based musician, Dovie Omenuwoma-Eniwo (aka Baba 2010).

Specifically, the defendants were alleged to “distribute, sell or let for hire or for the purposes of trade or business, expose or offer for sale 3,009 infringing copies of the musical work’’ of Baba 2010.

The musical works allegedly infringed upon by the defendants included; “Omotena, Gentleman, Christian and unity song’’ by the musician.