Copyright Society of
Nigeria, COSON, has asked
the Federal High Court sitting
in Lagos to restrain the Federal
Government-owned Federal
Radio Corporation of Nigeria,
FRCN, from further broadcast
of music and sound recordings
belonging to its members,
affiliates or assignors on any of
the 42 radio stations across the
country until the full payment
of all music copyright royalties
due to it.
In a 33 paragraph statement
of claim filed on May 5, on
behalf of COSON by Lagos
intellectual property lawyer,
Mr. Justin Ige of Creative Legal,
COSON narrated the unending
and unsuccessful efforts
made by its officers to collect
from FRCN music copyright
royalties due to thousands of
its members and members of
the 135 international collective
management organizations
represented by COSON in
Nigeria.
COSON stated in its court
processes in Suit No FHC/L/
CS/603/2016 that the
behaviour of the likes of FRCN
had led to massive loss of jobs in
the Nigerian nation, significant
loss of revenue to the country
and heavy capital flight from
Nigeria as most of the world’s
best known international music
companies had divested from
Nigeria and the domestic
investors were leaving the
industry in droves because
of the intolerable amount
of copyright infringement
encouraged by the likes of
FRCN.
Among the 42 FRCN radio
stations listed in the suit are
Kapital FM 92.9 MHz, Abuja;
Metro FM 97.7 MHz, Ikoyi;
Bond FM 92.9 MHz, Ikeja;
Radio One FM 103.5 MHz,
Ikoyi; Heartland FM-100.5
MHz, Owerri; Premier FM-
93.5 MHz, Ibadan; Positive
FM-102.5 MHz, Akure;
Gold FM-95.5 MHz, Ilesha;
Amuludun FM-96.3 MHz,
Ibadan; Paramount FM-94.5
MHz, Abeokuta; Treasure
FM 98.5 MHz, Port Harcourt;
Progress FM 100.5 MHz,
Ado –Ekiti; Supreme FM-96.1
MHz, Kaduna; Pyramid FM-
103.5 MHz, Kano; Coal City
FM-92.8 MHz, Enugu; Unity
FM-101.5 MHz, Abakaliki;
Pacesetter FM-103.5 MHz,
Umuahia and Purity FM-102.5
MHz, Awka.
As stated by COSON, the
Federal Government led by
President Muhammadu Buhari
has identified the entertainment
industry as one of the key
areas to be promoted by the
government to provide good
paying jobs for young people
in Nigeria, to reduce crime
and insurgency and boost
the nation’s economy but the
activities of the likes of FRCN
are set to torpedo the very good
intentions of the government.
Also in the court documents,
COSON expressed concern
that individual right owners
in musical works and sound
recordings may in frustration be
forced to take precipitate actions
to protect their rights and this
may lead to breakdown in law
and order if the courts do not
intervene.
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.....Nigerian Pilot