COSON TO BEGIN HEAVY LITIGATION AGAINST COPYRIGHT INFRINGERS IN OYO, ONDO, OGUN, OSUN, EKITI AND KWARA STATES.

Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has resolved to commence heavy litigation against copyright infringers and royalty defaulters in Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Kwara States of Nigeria. This was one of the key resolutions at the COSON Stakeholder’s forum which took place in majestic style on Thursday September 8, 2016 at the Kakanfo Conference Centre, in Ibadan, Oyo State with key music industry players from the South Western States such as Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Kwara States in attendance.

Also present at the historic Forum was the representative of Governor Abiola Ajimobi the Oyo State Governor, in the person of the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Mr. Toye Arulogun.

Among the veterans and top music figures of the music industry who were live in Ibadan for the forum were the likes of GOMAN President, Dr Funmi Aragbaye; Afro Juju Pioneer, Sir Shina Peters, Dancehall Star, Baba Dee Fasasi, Queen of love Azeezat Allen; Comedian cum singer, Koffi ‘tha guru’ Idowu Noel; Fuji Music Maestro, Alhaji Sikiru ‘S.K’ Agboola; and Ace Gospel Music Artiste, Lady Evangelist Bola Are.

Also present were Alhaji Rasheed Ayinde, Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Entertainment; Pastor Olusoji Adedeji who represented the Olubadan of Ibadan; members of Music Label Owners and Recording Industries Association of Nigeria (MORAN), Members of the Association of DJ’s, several broadcasters and broadcasting stations, with several Hotel representatives and music users across the South West and Kwara State.

While welcoming participants to the forum, celebrated former President of PMAN, Intellectual Property activist and Chairman of the COSON Board, Chief Tony Okoroji, thanked the people and government of Oyo State for the warm welcome accorded the COSON team in Ibadan. He specifically thanked the Olubadan of Ibadan, His Royal Majesty, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji for the great reception accorded the COSON team in his palace. He also thanked the renowned singer, Yinka Ayefele who was the first to welcome the team to the ancient city. Chief Okoroji said that the forum had been organized so that participants in the music industry from the South West and Kwara State can interact, have an open discussion on the copyright issues in the country and plot strategies for a better economy for creative people in Nigeria.

The COSON Chairman repeated his call for an intellectual property revolution in Nigeria so that the creative, cultural and inventive capacity of the Nigerian people can be fired up for a new knowledge economy, based on Nigeria’s well known ingenuity. He further stated that it was time the nation switched its attention from oil and gas and instead focused on the creative sector where according to him, the country has substantial comparative advantage. He noted that most of the world’s richest economies today have their foundation in knowledge, creativity and intellectual property which Nigeria is endowed with.

Speaking at the forum, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture & Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun commended COSON for the time, efforts and resources deployed towards the forum. Mr. Arulogun also encouraged COSON to intensify the efforts as wider awareness is needed to reach the nooks and crannies of the state and Nigeria at large.

The Honorable Commissioner expressed support for COSON, stating that the government would help in the fight against copyright infringement in the state. Mr. Toye Arulogun also advised COSON to partner with Government at the Federal, State and Local levels to ensure full compliance with the payment of royalties and enforcement of the law on defaulters.

After the boisterous interactive session, the forum resolved that unrelenting legal action be taken to ensure that all recalcitrant organizations who deploy music in their businesses in Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Kwara States of Nigeria without any copyright license, including broadcasting stations, hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, transport companies, product promoters, etc. are taught a lesson and forced to obtain music copyright licenses from COSON and pay necessary royalties to ensure that COSON members in these states get commensurate income from the exploitation of their works.

It was also resolved that necessary action be taken to ensure that the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari gives appropriate directives to implement the resolutions taken on September 1 which form the ‘No Music Day’ 2016 demands, including the implementation of the Private Copy Levy Scheme, so as to kick start the process of providing the right environment for the creation of investments, jobs and growth in the Nigerian economy.

Speaking after the forum, COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji said, “The COSON Stakeholders’ Forum in Ibadan was a huge success. The reception of the Oyo people, the participation and response were simply overwhelming. We look forward to more visits to this state as was clamored for during the forum’’

Following the Forum, the COSON team was at the University of Ibadan where a historic open forum was held with the students and lecturers.

Also on the COSON team to Ibadan were Board members, Hon John Ewelukwa Udegbunam and Mr. Joel Ajayi.