…Wants master tapes of his works
…Goes to court
By Charles Okogene
Reggae music revolutionary, Mr. Orits Williki, has instituted a copyright infringement and breach of contract case against Nigeria’s oldest music recording and distribution/marketing company, Premier Music.
Orits who is also the chairman of Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria that recently battled MultiChoice of Nigeria to submission over copyright abuse, has taken his case with Premier Music before Justice Justice Allagoa J’s court three of the Federal High Court Ikoyi since May 22, 2022, for intervention
Orits Willik flanked by Amb. Felix Duke, at a recent Creative Industry Group event
The musician who is about to celebrate his four decades in the music industry, is praying the court to compel Premier Music to release the master tapes of his songs like, ‘Tribulations, Conquerer, Wha’ This, Wha’ That,’ released on Premier Music label decades ago and pay him 100m being the value of his songs that we’re exploited by Premier Music after the contract elapsed.
According to the musician, the number of year’s which the law and the contract he signed with the music company allowed the company to hold on to his master tapes have expired 35 years ago and it (Premier,) and releasing the timeless songs contained in the albums and vending same both locally and internationally. Now he wants the master tapes of the albums given to him so he can do what he likes with them but the company is refusing – hence his decision to seek the help of the court and that is what he has done through his lawyer, Mr. Ademola Odetunde.
Below is the court summon and affidavit.
