How to Avoid a $250k Copyright Suit
A few days after this recording, two major events happened. Ghanaian music producer Kobby Spiky won a two-year, $250,000 copyright infringement lawsuit against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for using his soundtrack "Okomfo Anokye" without permission for promotional purposes.
Veteran music producer Kwame Mickey alleged that Team Eternity Ghana's hit song "Defe Defe" sampled a track by his artist, Hallelujah Voices. He stated that both songs shared identical lyrics, composition, and arrangement, even though their melodies were different. Both parties have reached an amicable settlement.
These incidents highlight the ongoing issue of copyright infringement in the creative industry. In this episode, Adwoa Paintsil, Esq., breaks down the copyright process in Ghana, offering enlightening commentary on pitfalls creatives should avoid.
Adwoa E. Paintsil is a lawyer and an associate of the Robert Smith Law Group. She has lectured and published extensively on copyright and intellectual property rights in Ghana. Adwoa's love for music leads her to occasionally lend her voice to her favourite songs. Outside of work, she is an ‘aspiring rich auntie’ to her nephews.