Paul Play’s N200m Case Against Etisalat Adjourns Over Use Of ‘Mosorire’

The legal tussle between award winning music act, Paul I.K. Dairo better known as Paul Play and telecoms giant, Etisalat has been adjourned to a new date.

A Federal High Court in Lagos presided over by Justice Aneke has adjourned proceedings till November 23, 2015 following an alleged copyright infringement suit filed by music star, Paul Play against Etisalat

Paul Play is seeking an order of the court compelling Etisalat and others to pay him N200m for the alleged use of his 2009 hit single, ‘Mosorire’ without his authorization. Paul Play claimed Etisalat used ‘Mosorire’ in its popular television reality show, Nigerian Idol for two consecutive years without paying him.

Also, Optima Media Group, the sole body organizing Nigeria Idol was joined in the suit alongside Etisalat.

In a thrilling twist, Optima Media Group has however filed an application urging the court to join the Copyright Society of Nigeria as a defendant in the suit. The group claimed it obtained the licence to use the Paul Play’s track from COSON.

The case has however been adjourned till November 23, 2015 to hear Optima’s application seeking to join COSON in the suit.

Paul Play is seeking a declaration of the court that the use of his song without authorization constituted an infringement of his copyright, as guaranteed by the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004 and sections 6 (6) (b) and 44 of the 1999 Constitution.

The song ‘Mosorire’ was released in 2009, and went on to become an evergreen favorite of Nigeria.