Sunday, August 29, 2021

MultiChoice Nigeria settles with the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN), pay-TV operator will now pay royalties and made back-payment as artists now demand their share from MCSN.


by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice Nigeria has now settled with Nigeria's Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSA) who took the pay-TV operator to court and obtained a judgment, over the payment of royalties for music used on television, with MultiChoice Nigeria that will now pay for the use of music going forward and has also make back-payment of millions of naira going back a few years that will be distributed to artists.

Nigeria's MCSN took MultiChoice Nigeria to court and secured various different judgments in its favour against MultiChoice at the West African country's Federal High Court and its Court of Appeal.

MCSN demanded that MultiChoice Nigeria and M-Net West Africa pay royalties when musical works are used that form part of TV broadcasts on MultiChoice's channels in Nigeria.

In early-2018 the Nigerian courts ordered MultiChoice Nigeria to pay at least 5.9 million naira (R2.1 million) to the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria after the MCSN took MultiChoice Nigeria to court in 2011.

Now Nigeria's artists want their money and they want it from the MCSN that has so far not made any payouts after MultiChoice Nigeria made payments to the MCSN.

MCSN says it won't be blackmailed by artists demanding money.

"MCSN and MultiChoice Nigeria now see each other as sister organisations that must work for the success of the other, particularly in the area of exploitation of and remuneration for intellectual works," says Moyo Ayilaran, MCSN CEO, in a statement.

"MCSN's management would make a formal report of the outcome of the settlement to its relevant authorities, particularly the board of directors and members' general meeting through formal communications and meetings."

"Management would then make proposals to the bodies on how the money should be allocated in line with best practices, all which is still an ongoing process."

"Since the settlement and payment were recorded in the course of 2021, MCSN would draw a line between which years should what particular payment fall in, and deal accordingly."

"One thing which MCSN has made clear and which its board agrees with is that all liabilities from the past would not be loaded on and borne by this single payment, as this settlement is purely an opening for more past, present and future incomes."

"The organisation therefore assures everyone that all those who have any contractual, legal or even moral claim to the payment would be paid without any form of sentiment, emotion or blackmail."

"It is hereby directed that all members who have registered and have been admitted into the membership of the society since 2006 should update their records, particularly their bank details, with the society."