Copyright infringement Paul Play drags MTN, Ultima to court

RnB crooner, Paul Play Dairo has dragged mobile telecommunications giant, MTN and Ultima Limited to court for the unlawful use of his smash song, “Angel of my life” in the popular reality TV show, MTN Project Fame West Africa.

The music star was faraway in the United States of America last year when the song was used without proper licensing.

Speaking on the matter, Paul Play confirmed that his management was hiring the legal services of Festus Keyamo chambers to serve both organisations the suit. “Yes, it is very true that I am suing MTN and Ultima Limited for the unlawful use of my song. I have contacted my lawyers and they are on it” he said.

Paul Play

According to reports, the Rn B crooner is demanding a huge sum of N500 million as compensation from both organisation.

Meanwhile, in a reaction posted online, Ultima Limited (Ultima) which has produced the reality show for the last five years, claimed that it has annually made the statutory payments due and required for the use of musical works for both local and international artistes used on the Project Fame show.

“In the first two years, Ultima paid the Performing and Mechanical Rights Society Ltd/Gte (PMRS) – which was the government approved collecting agency at the time, for all musical works that Ultima used; and from the third year when PMRS became Copyrights Society of Nigeria (COSON), Ultima paid COSON for all the songs used in those years.

For the past five seasons of Project Fame  therefore, Ultima has annually made the statutory payments due and required for the use of musical works for both local and international artistes used on the Project Fame show. Ultima duly paid COSON for use of such music and as such if Paul Play has any issue with payment of royalties for the use of his musical works, it should be worked out with COSON and not Ultima nor MTN,” Ultima management stated.