Chairman of Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, Tony Okoroji, has said that there will be no hiding place for telecommunication companies operating in Nigeria who do not respect the intellectual property rights of creative people whose works these companies exploit for profit.
Speaking at the COSON Stakeholders’ Forum which took place in Ibadan on September 8, 2016, Okoroji said, “If the ‘telcos’ think we will allow them have a copyright safe haven in Nigeria, they are wrong; if the telcos think we will get tired of pressuring them to do the right thing, they are very wrong; If the ‘telcos’ believe that we will ever stop asking them to give to Peter what belongs to Peter, they are absolutely wrong.”
According to the former president of PMAN, in the digital age, the telecommunication companies have become first line players in the distribution of music. He insisted that it will be suicidal for the music industry not to insist that these companies play within the rules and in accordance with the law.
Okoroji said that since COSON decided to take to court the matter of the horrendous copyright infringement engaged in by some of the telecommunication companies, the companies have resorted to ‘cheap and unimpressive blackmail and divide and rule tactics’.
A visibly angry Okoroji said to the forum, “Some of the ‘telcos’ have begun to issue press releases and launch insidious campaigns suggesting to our stakeholders that COSON is working against the interest of its members.
“They are carrying on a whispering campaign telling Nigerian musicians that by upholding their rights and exposing the massive injury being done to them, COSON is endangering their careers. They are even trying to give the impression that by appointing a few Nigerian artistes as their ‘brand ambassadors’, the music industry should kneel down and grovel to them when these companies go home with about 70% of the income from every piece of music they sell while the artistes, the record labels, the VAS companies fight over a mere 30% of the money.
“The composers and publishers who create the music do not even get one naira as these companies rob Peter to pay Paul. And we are supposed to keep quiet? They want to turn us into slaves in our land? God forbid!”
Okoroji went on to say, “Somebody should tell these companies that we are committed to this fight and committed to a new Nigerian economy based on the respect for the rights of creative people. We want the telecommunication companies to thrive in Nigeria but they cannot thrive by stealing the intellectual property of Nigerians.
“Rather than resolve the issues and work with us in a meaningful way that can ensure the sustained growth of the Nigerian economy, they want to play ‘Super man’ with the money they collect from Nigerian subscribers some of who are the same creative people they are stealing from.
“I don’t believe they know us. We have notified the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Nigerian Copyright Commission. We have informed President Muhammad Buhari. We will take on these companies whichever way they want it and for as long as they want it.”
Speaking on the side lines of the forum, frontline singer, Azeezat Allen, said, “You can see how angry the chairman is. Maybe the telecom companies should consult the broadcast industry and ask them how their threat of banning the music of COSON members from the airwaves worked out.
“Everyone will recall that the matter even went to the courts and to the National Assembly but at the end of the day, the broadcast industry had to sit down and negotiate with COSON and an agreement was reached.
“That was exactly the case with the hotel industry too. What they may not know is that Chief Okoroji, the chairman of COSON is one of the authors of the Nigerian Copyright Law.
“He knows the law like the back of his hands and probably no one in Nigeria understands its application more than he does. He has written extensively on the subject and his books are being applied by lawyers and judges. He teaches the subject around the world. These telecom companies might get some SAN and pay him some big money but at the end of the day, they will do what they have to do. Anyone who knows Okoroji will tell you that he does not start something and not finish it. Is that the man they want to take on? I am sorry for them.”
