The Copyright Owner page 1

NIGERIA'S largest copyright owner, the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) is determined to partner with producers and distributors at the popular Alaba international market to get rid of the notorious 'HAVEN OF COUNTERFEITING AND PIRATES' tag it had endured over the years.

.And this it hopes to do by educating and liecencing producers and distributors with genuine interest in the protection of copyright.

MCSN has already liecenced a number of reproduction companies based in the market reputed to be the biggest in the WestCoast of Africa to allow them to do genuine and legitimate business of reproduction of musical worksin the repertoire of the society.Among leading reproduction and distribution companies so liecenced areRemi-More Nigeria Limited, Joe Mickey International Limited and praise God music and films.Early June, more companies that d

Two Fedral High Court sitting, in Lagos have dismissed two applications brought by the Performing and Mechanical Rights Society [pmrs] seeking to be joined in suits of copyrights infringement instituted by the Musical Copyrights Society Nigeria[MCSN] against two coporate bodies . . .iTouch Global Concepts Nigeria Limited and Vee Networks[CELTEL]

The PMRS had filed the applications at the Fedral High Courts seeking to be joined the suits and claiming that it was an interested party.

In the affidavits deposed to before Justice I.N. Auta and Justice M.L. Shauaibu respectively, PMRS claimed that it was interested to be joined in the suits because it was [is] the only registered and government approved collecting society for the purpose of collective

administration of performance rights and liecencing in Nigeria.Arguing the motions on behalf of the applicants, their lawyers, Miss I.I.Vavriniek [before Justice Shuaibu] and I.I. Uawrine and Miss D.O. Ozoma [before Justice Auta] contended that the Courts should make an Order of Joinder where parties have an interest in the subject of litigation or persons are likely to be affected by the result of the suit and that the Applicant has the right of Issue and gave the right to the defendant [Vee Networks] and gave them an indeminity.And that any judgement against the defendent will affect PMRS, respectively.

However, in opposing the application, MCSN's lawyer, Mr.Olumide Ekisola [before Justice Shuaibu] contended that the issue in the matter is breach of copyuright which can be dipensed

without the Applicant [PMRS].He further agued that in the plaintiff's statement of claim before the court, nowhere was the issue of collecting society raised and that his client is not contending that the Applicant is infri nging the works neither is it the owner of the works.He therefore concluded that the party seeking to joined in the suit is not a proper party and therefore should not be made a Defendant as the action will effectively be in its absence and without it being joined as a Defendant. Both the Applicant and Plaintiff's lawyers cited several authorities to back their arguments.While opposing PMRS' application against Justice Auta, the plaintiff's lawyer, A.T. Lawal contended that there are two issues for determination

speaking at the liecence presentation event at the Allen avenue [Lagos] headquarters ggof the MCSN to the two companies, the chairman of the board of MCSN, Orits Wiliki described the event as a proof of the success of the Strategic Action Against Piracy [strap] launched by the Nigerian Copyright Commission on May 3rd 2005

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believe in paying for the use and reproduction of the works of musicians both home and abroad were liecenced by MCSN. The two new companies that were liecenced are, BlesseEmma Golden Concept Nigeria Limited and Reverend Trading Company.Instructively, the liecenced company are some of the big reproduction companies in the market in particular and the country in general.