Music Producers Association drags COSON to court over Royalty Distribution

The Music Publishers Association of Nigeria (MPAN) has
instituted a Legal suit before a Federal High Court Lagos, against
the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) over its Royalty
distribution Policy.

In the new suit labelled FHC/L/CS/1418/19, and filed by
plaintiff counsel, Mr Olumide Mustapha, the plaintiff joined COSON
as sole defendant.

MPAN:s suit seeks to declare as illegal, COSON’s practice of
“General Distribution” of royalties, thereby freeing and making
more funds available for increased royalty distribution to
deserving COSON members.

It avers that this manner of “General Distribution”, does not
reflect the usage of the works covered by the defendant’s
repertoire, and is not based on information furnished by its
users.

Plaintiff is therefore, seeking a detemination, whether, by
virtue of the provisions of Regulations 15 (1) & (2) of the
Copyright Regulations 2007, the defendant’s manner of distribution
is legal.

It seeks a Declaration that the defendant’s manner of royalties
distribution, known as ‘General Distribution’ or however so called,
is not based on information furnished by its users, and so, is
illegal.

MPAN, consequently, seeks an order, prohibiting COSON from
further distributing royalties in such manner, as it does not
reflect the usage of works covered by the defendant’s repertoire
and not based on information furnished by users.

MPAN seeks any order, or such other orders, as the honourable
court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.