Musicians Freeboy and Winnie Nwagi
Telecommunication giant MTN Uganda is in trouble for the alleged sale of “Kwata Esimu” song, which belongs to Winnie Nwagi and Mubarak Adams Mandela alias Free Boy as a caller tune. Viva Entertainment Limited has sued the telecom company in the Civil Division of High Court on behalf of the two music artists.
In its suit, Viva Entertainment Company claims to have written, produced, published and invested money in the song. The entertain firm was the court to declare that the sale of Kwata Esimu as a caller tune to the public without authorization or its consent amounts to an infringement of their copyright and unjust enrichment.
Viva Entertainment contends that despite the popularity of the song, it hasn’t been performed on stage because of the government ban on concerts as part of the measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“That despite the song’s popularity, the plaintiff (Viva Entertainment) was not able to fully recoup the cost incurred while producing the said musical work, due to the limitations in commercial engagement in the said work caused by the defendant’s illegal exploitation of the song without authorization from the plaintiff (Viva Entertainment),” reads the suit.
Adding that, “The popularity of the song was so immense it triggered dance challenges locally and abroad from fans dubbed ‘Kwata Esimu Challenge’ which was a statement to the song’s popularity.”
Through their lawyers of Katende, Ssempebwa and Company Advocates, Viva Entertainment contends that they had intentions of commercializing the said musical work through exclusive licensing of its use to various corporate entities in Uganda and abroad.
They however, contend that MTN which provides caller tunes to customers at Shillings 700 monthly went ahead to use the song without their consent. Viva Entertainment Company now says it is entitled to payment in form of royalties from MTN out of the proceeds from the unlawful sale of their song to the public since 2019.
The company states that due to the said actions, it has suffered anguish and therefore should be compensated with Shillings 175 million. They are also seeking a permanent order restraining MTN Uganda from the continued illegal sale of their music and to be given 100 percent royalties as well as costs of the suit. MTN Uganda Spokesperson, Rhonah Arinaitwe declined to comment since the matter is already before the court.
The Civil Division Registrar, Jameson Karemani has summoned MTN Uganda to file their defense within 15 days before the case is fixed for hearing. This is not the first time MTN Uganda is being sued on matters related to caller tunes. In 2012, the late Kampala Mayor, Nasser Ssebagala sued MTN Uganda and SMS Media Limited accusing them of using his speeches and addresses as ringtones and caller tunes without his consent.
He demanded that MTN and SMS Media Limited compensate him for infringing on his copyright. But in 2015, the then High Court Judge, Christopher Izama Madrama dismissed the petition on grounds that Ssebagala did not have a copyright that was infringed on by the companies. He reasoned that his speeches were publicly broadcast in Uganda as the current news of public and political events and besides, he was a ministerial nominee.
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