Music producer TY Mix indicts govt over intellectual property rights

A Nigeria music producer, Temitayo Ibitoye better known as Tee-Y Mix is of the opinion that the Nigerian government is not doing enough to protect intellectual property right owners.

The Computer Science graduate of the University of Abuja revealed that much in an interview with Ripples Nigeria at a concert to mark the World Intellectual Property Day.

According to the producer who has worked several hits including Naeto C’s ‘10 over 10’ and ‘Kini Big Deal’, Sound Sultan’s ‘Natural something’ and 9ice’s ‘3310’ among others, a lack of implementation of enabling laws is aiding the scourge of piracy.

“The government is obviously not doing enough to fight piracy here in Nigeria as it is done in other organised climes where you don’t infringe on other people’s intellectual property by default because if you try it, law enforcers will trail and track you.

“I know that in Nigeria, there are laws meant to protect intellectual property right owners and the creative industry at large but it is in the implementation and enforcement of such laws that the government is found wanting. I don’t fell protected as an intellectual property owner.

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When asked how much he had lost to piracy, the music producer who was born in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, says he can’t really quantify how much he has lost because the price of creativity is not fixed but he noted that creative people in Nigeria will be well to do if theirs works are protected from piracy and bootlegging.

He also weighed in on the recent accusations by a number of musicians who belong to the older generation like Majek Fashek, Victor Uwaifo and King Sunny Ade who have complained about copy right infringement by some younger generation of musicians.

“Everything is a pointer to the fact that the enabling laws are not being implemented and if they were, most of the accusations will not end up in the media but in the court of law. One does not need to banter with a colleague or someone somewhere who is copying your intellectual property without permission. All you need do is sue the person in question.

The #RespectNaijaCreativity music concert staged at the Freedom Park, organized by U.S. Mission Nigeria, in collaboration with Temple Management Company (TMC), witnessed performances by Grammy award-winning singer, Tim Kubart and his band, including acts by popular Nigerian artists including Iyanya, Bisola Aiyeola, and Jeff Akoh.

 

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