NMJ ENTERTAINMENT AND ANOTHER vs. RLG COMMUNICATIONS AND 3 OTHERS [2017]DLHC3673

Date	2017-04-06
Suit No.	SUIT NO. IPR/15/13
Citation No.	[2017]DLHC3673

GEORGE K.KOOMSON JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

DR. KWEKU AINUSON FOR PLAINTIFFS

KWAME AMANKWAH-TWUM FOR DEFENDANT

[2017]DLHC3673
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >NMJ ENTERTAINMENT AND ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>RLG COMMUNICATIONS AND 3 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>SUIT NO. IPR/15/13&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;6TH APRIL, 2017<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>DR. KWEKU AINUSON FOR PLAINTIFFS <o:p></o:p>KWAME AMANKWAH-TWUM FOR DEFENDANT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>GEORGE K.KOOMSON JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>By their writ of summons, the plaintiffs claim against the
defendant the following reliefs: <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Perpetual Injunction
restraining the defendant by themselves or by their servants or agents or
otherwise howsoever from further infringing the copyright of the plaintiff’s in
the song ‘wedding day’. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
GHS 200,000.00 being damages
for copyright infringement on the basis of widespread distribution of
plaintiffs’ ‘wedding day’ song. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-right:184.55pt;mso-add-space:
auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
General damages for breach of
contract <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-right:269.5pt;mso-add-space:
auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Costs including legal fees. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>The case of the plaintiffs is that the 2nd plaintiff, a musician,
composed a song called the ‘wedding day’. It is the contention of the
plaintiffs that at the time the 2nd plaintiff composed the ‘wedding day’ song,
the 1st plaintiff had a management contract with the 2nd plaintiff. It is the
case of the plaintiffs that the defendant without authorization and consent of
the plaintiffs made adaptations and sampling of the ‘wedding day’ song’s
instrumentals under the same title ‘wedding day’ and published same or caused
same to be published as the default ringing tone of the defendant’s android
mobile phones. The plaintiffs contend further that the said android phones were
widely sold by the defendant in Ghana and also sold in other West African and
East African markets. It is therefore the case of the plaintiffs that the
unlawful and unauthorised use of the 2nd plaintiff’s ‘Wedding Day’ song has had
the effect of reducing the value as well as any market potential in the song
whereas the defendant is directly benefitting as the said song adds promotional
value to the marketability of the defendant’s android phones. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>