Charly Boy accuses Premier Records of copyright infringement, breach of contract
By Emumena Michael
Popular musician, Charles Emeka Oputa, better known as Charly Boy is set to drag Premier Records Limited to court for violating their terms of agreement in a musical contract signed about 35 years ago.
Our correspondent learnt that Charly Boy had signed Artists Recording Contracts with the company in 1988, 1990 and also recently. However, the popular singer is alleging that the contracts he signed have since expired. Yet, Premier Records Limited is breaching his copyrights to the musical works.
According to a legal document by Rockson Legal, representatives of Charly Boy, which was dated 19th June 2023 and signed by Rockson Igelige, Premier Records Limited has within 30 days to hand over our master tapes, artworks, promo collateral for the music and other relevant and confidential information with the company to Charly Boy or face legal action.
Igelige listed the albums affected to include 1990 album containing songs like Big Bottom, Aids, Sexy Lady, Mama, and Nwata Miss. Also affected is album titled U-Turn with songs like Akula, Sheri, Comfort, Civilian Barrack, Akula (Instrumental).
The album titled Reality which contains songs such as Monkey, Family Support, No.6 Man, Give Mv Life, Lagos Life, and Baby Come Back was also affected.
On behalf of Charly Boy, the legal practitioners are also demanding the payment of outstanding royalties due to the popular singer from Premier Records Limited within the given ultimatum.
The legal document, which was obtained by our correspondent states, “We are legal practitioners for Charles Emeka Oputa also known by his stage name as “Charly Boy” (our Client) and we write this letter on our client’s instructions.
“Our client informed us that the terms of the Artists Recording contracts he entered with your company (as Polydor Record) in 1988, and as (Polygram Records Limited) in 1990, and as (Premier Records Limited) subsequently, have ended by expiration of time.
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“In this wise, we have our client’s instructions to formally inform your company to stop further breach of our client’s copyrights to the musical works under the musical albums and single(s) produced during the aforesaid expired contract period especially as the condition precedent as well as the consideration for the contracts were not met and furnished.
“This also serves as a legal notice that further breach after the receipt of this letter will attract legal action. Please find below the aforementioned songs and / or albums: (1) 1990: 2.Big Bottom 3.Aids 4.Sexy Lady 5. Mama 6. Nwata Miss (2). U-Turn: 1. Akula 2. Sheri 3. Comfort 4. Civilian Barrack 5. Akula (Instrumental) (3). Reality: 1. Monkey 2. Family Support 3. No.6 Man 4. Give Mv Life 5. Lagos Life 6. Baby Come Back.
“Further, on our client’s instructions, we demand that your company hand over our client’s master tapes, artworks, promo collateral for the music and other relevant and confidential information with your company within one 30 days of the date of this letter. We also demand your company’s payment of our client’s outstanding royalties.
“We hope and trust that your company will comply with our client’s modest demands.”
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