Five Star Music label boss, E-Money and his brother, KCee, have been slammed with a lawsuit for copyright infringement by veteran Catholic music composer, Jude Nnam who is demanding N150 million in damages.
According to thenigeriainlawyer.com, Jude Nnam alleges that Kcee included his 2001 composition ‘Som Too Chukwu’ in his 2020 Cultural Praise Vol. 1 album without authorisation.
According to the document in the case filed at the Federal High Court:
“Nnam is seeking declaration “that the defendants jointly and severally infringed on his copyright “by adapting, producing, distributing, marketing, advertising and performing” the song to the general public “without his consent or authorization (either written or oral).
“He is also seeking perpetual Injunction retraining, preventing and or prohibiting the defendants whether acting by themselves, or through their servants, agents, privies, legal representatives, or any other person howsoever from infringing on his copyright to the song.”
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According to the report, Nnam’s lawyer, Michael Amakeze, had on January 28, 2021, written to the defendants on the alleged copyright infringement but the plaintiff’s concerns were ignored.
A knight of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, Nnam said he composed the song for private worship and for liturgical purposes in the church.
Renowned for his musical compositions in many languages, Nnam directed the “Papal Choir of a Thousand Voices” in Abuja during Saint Pope John Paul II’s second visit to Nigeria in 1998.