NCC files copyright violation charges against MTN, 4 others

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and four others over alleged copyright infringement.

The Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Limited, and Yahaya Maibe were also listed in the charge with Number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The court document was seen by journalists on Monday.

The quintet will be docked on a three-count charge of copyright infringement.

The NCC alleged that the defendants between 2010 and 2017 offered for sale, sold, and traded for business infringed musical works of an artist, Maleke Idowu Moye without his consent and authorisation.

The commission added that the defendants used musical works and sound recordings of Maleke with subsisting copyright as Caller Ring Back Tunes without the authorisation of the artiste.

READ ALSO: Glo subscribers to be barred from calling MTN —NCC

It listed the infringed musical works and sound recordings as 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.

NCC equally accused the defendants of distributing the musical works to their subscribers, without authorization.

The offences, according to the commission, were contrary to and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

However, the case has not been assigned to any judge nor any date fixed for the hearing.

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