Zambian music star, Martin Moyo better known as Nez Long has sued Liquid Telecom Zambia Ltd for copyright infringement for using part of his lyrics from the song, Keka (Kilikiti Kaiponena) as a copy on one of their new promotions as seen on the flyer below.
According to the Statement of Claim filed at the Lusaka High Court, Liquid Telecom approached Nezlong and asked him to use his lyrics to promote the sale of mobile phones.
Nezlong had a meeting with them where he told them the terms on which he would allow them to use his lyrics, and they said that they would get back to him and draw up a written agreement after due consultation.
Later liquid telecom told Nezlong that they had suspended the launch of the advert for phones due to the covid 19 pandemic.
However to Nezlong’s surprise he came across an advert for promotion of various routers by liquid telecom using the term ‘kilikiti ama deals yaiponena’. And this advert using lyrics from Keka song was done without his consent and no consideration and acknowledgement of the fact that he is the producer and has copyright in the lyrics.
Nez Long is claiming for general damages for the copyright infringement and also for damages for fraudulent misrepresentation. He is also seeking an order that the Defendant renders an account of profits made from the copyright infringement.