Date Set for Copy Right Infringment Case
Hon. Justice Christopher Madrama of the\r\nCommercial Court Division of the High Court set April 28, 2014 as the date on\r\nwhich to hear submissions from Hajj Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala and telecom\r\noperator MTN over ringtones copyright ownership.
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The Hon. Judge’s decision to set the hearing\r\ndate followed the lawyers’ submission that they had agreed on the documents\r\nwhich the parties intend to use during the court hearing. MTN, in its defense,\r\nacknowledges that although the recording contains Mr. Ssebaggala‘s voice, he\r\ndid not produce the recording neither did he acquire any copyright for the\r\nspeeches.
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MTN argues that Ssebaggala‘s speeches were\r\npublicly broadcast as current news of public interest and political events.\r\nThey also note that Ssebaggala was an active participant both as the then mayor\r\nand ministerial nominee.
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The History\r\nof the case
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Mr. Ssebaggala, accuses MTN of infringing on his copyright by using his\r\nvoice recording in various ringtones and SMS media, which produced the\r\nrecordings and transmitted them to MTN. In the case filed on July 13, 2012, Mr.\r\nSsebaggala is demanding all the proceeds from the sale of the ringtones where\r\neach caller tune was sold at Shs 500, and was valid for 30 days.
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Posted 5th, February 2014
