CAF found guilty of using Spiky's music without permission
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been found guilty of utilizing music producer Spiky’s work without authorization by the Commercial Court 7 in Accra.
The verdict was given by the court on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
Kwabena Ofei-Kwadey Nkrumah, better known as Spiky, sued CAF for copyright infringement after they exploited his song “Okomfo Anokye” beat without getting his permission. The song was featured in 2018 CAF Awards advertising materials.
Although CAF acknowledged that they had utilized Spiky’s compositions without authorization, they insisted that the music was not used for profit and could be downloaded for free from the internet.
The court, however, disregarded this argument and found CAF accountable for the violation.
The court’s decision is a major win for Spiky as well as a turning point in the defense of intellectual property rights in the music business. Spiky has expressed his happiness about the decision, calling it a victory for the creative sector.
The court has mandated that CAF reimburse Spiky USD $250,000 in damages as well as GHS 40,000 in legal fees.
This decision emphasizes the need of upholding intellectual property rights and sends a signal to businesses and individuals who use copyrighted content without authorization.
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