Ace Reggae musician, Orits Williki, has slammed a N100m lawsuit against foremost recording company, Premier Music, for alleged copyright infringement and breach of contract.
The reggae maestro lamented that the number of years the contract he signed with the music company allowed the company to hold on to his master tapes expired 35 years ago.
Despite the expiration of the timeline, he alleged that Premier Music has been releasing the timeless songs contained in the albums and vending same both locally and internationally without his authorization and without any revenue accrued to him.
Consequently, Wiliki prayed the court to compel Premier Music to pay him N100 million being the value of his songs that have been exploited by after their contract elapsed.
He is also praying the court to compel Premier Music to give him the master tapes of his songs like, ‘Tribulations, Conquerer, Wha’ This, Wha’ That,’ released on the Premier Music label decades ago.
Wiliki through his lawyer, Mr. Ademola Odetunde, told the court that Premier Music has refused to give him master tapes of his albums hence his decision to seek the help of the court.
The musician, who is also the chairman of Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria, MCSN, in the case instituted before Justice Justice Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi Lagos, stated that the number of years 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.
