It was a beehive of activities this Tuesday, November 1, 2016 as Copyright Society of Nigeria, the sole approved Collective Management Organisation for musical works and sound recordings signed a landmark copyright agreement with Disc Jockeys across the federation of Nigeria.
At the ceremony, COSON Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji praised the leadership of Disc Jockeys Association of Nigeria, (DJAN) for their persistence in the negotiation which has lasted many months. The COSON Chairman said he was impressed by the determination of the DJAN leadership to obtain the most favorable deal on behalf of their members.
Chief Okoroji said that the significance of the agreement at a time when the Nigerian economy is challenged is that, the respect of intellectual property, which is the cornerstone of the new knowledge economy, is being institutionalized in Nigeria. He particularly praised DJ Jimmy Jatt who has worked tirelessly for this day to come true.
By the agreement every member of Disc Jockeys Association of Nigeria (DJAN), shall obtain a copyright licence from COSON with immediate effect and every member of DJAN engaged in any public performance of musical works or sound recordings shall at the time of such public performance carry on him a copy of his/her current music copyright licence issued by COSON and shall present such licence for sighting at the request of any accredited COSON agent or representative.
Furthermore, no Disc Jockey shall engage in the unauthorized reproduction for sale, compilation for sale, sale or distribution of any musical works or sound recordings. While the agreement protects all licensed Disc Jockeys from the infringement of the relevant copyright in musical works and sound recordings in a public performance, the agreement does not protect any brand owners, corporate bodies, owners of event venues, public or commercial facility owners, whose brands, venues or facilities are associated with the public performance.
The agreement also states that every licensed Disc Jockey shall not engage in the public performance of musical works or sound recordings in a venue or facility not licensed for the public performance of music or in support of a brand or corporate organization which has not obtained the appropriate copyright licence for the public performance of musical works and sound recordings.
Reacting, DJAN President, Mr. Tade Adeyemi, popularly known as DJ Cool described the day as the best of his life. He commended the COSON Chairman for his magnanimity in listening to the demands of the Association while also taking into consideration the Association’s enumerated challenges.
He said “ Today I can categorically say that I am the happiest man on earth because we have been on this for quite a long time and we are very happy that at the end of the day, COSON agreed to some of our terms and DJAN also agreed to some of COSON’s terms. We are highly grateful that COSON listened to us and I am promising that on behalf of the entire DJAN members nationwide we will not disappoint.”
Present at the signing ceremony were COSON Directors, Mr. Joel Ajayi, Mrs. Azeezat Allen, COSON General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji and popular reggae artiste, Ras Kimono,
Also present were DJAN executives, Deejays Kolabaiye, (Vice President) Larry ( Zonal Coordinator South West Zone), DJ Alex ( Treasurer) and DJ Temple (Lagos Treasurer)
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