TheNewsGuru.com confirms that Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN) is set to intervene in the alleged copyright infringement on King Sunny Ade’s (KSA), music by Nigerian singers, Davido and Small Doctor.
Mr Mayowa Ayilaran, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the society, who gave this assurance, however, said they have not received any formal complaint on the matter.
Nevertheless, Ayilaran, said the society wants to step into it to ensure that all the parties receive justice and at the same time curb future re-occurrence.
He informed that the society has been educating musicians through various social media platforms on the need to seek permission from legitimate music owners before copying their works.
According to him, when the society confirms the veracity of the allegation against Davido and Small Doctor, it will advise the musicians in question to pay certain percentage of profits made from the songs to the original owner.
TheNewsGuru.com notes that the society will be organising a seminar for artists in the country next month to educate them on penalties on all forms of copyright infringements.
This, according to Ayilaran will help guide against rancour amongst musicians and enhance some level of creativity among them.
He urged artists to desist from picking lyrics from different artists to produce their own full-fledged songs, noting that such act would reduce their creativity.
“We are going to have a seminar for musicians to help them understand that infringing on other musicians properties attract some serious sanctions and will be taken seriously henceforth,” he said
Mr Clement Ige, the manager of KSA had alleged at a roundtable discourse recently that the duo of Davido and Small Doctor used lyrics from KSA’s discography in their hit songs without due authorisation.
Ige noted that the duo did not give appropriate credit to KSA , the original owner of the lyrics.
He said that Small Doctor in his 2017 hit record ‘Penalty’, took the musical line: ‘ijó tí m’ojó l’àná, tí wọn n’pariwo, oni nkọ, ola nkọ’ from KSA’s song.
Davido in his breakthrough single, ‘Damiduro’ used KSA’s lyrics but he did not get it right because he did not ask for permission from KSA.
Davido sang “Kuluso ewe, agbagba ewe”, which was a misinterpretation of the actual line of the song, `Seleru agbo, agbara agbo’.
Ige said that he knew all these because the songs were jointly composed by KSA and himself.
