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MTN Faces N112.5Bn Suit over Use of Comedy Brand

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Femi Edwards, a content producer who specializes in the business of events productions, promotions and marketing with particular focus on comedy, has dragged telecommunications firm, MTN Nigeria Limited before a Federal High Court in Lagos demanding account of N112.5 billion revenue allegedly generated from the wrongful use of a comedy brand.

 

According to the suit, the plaintiff is accusing MTN of illegally using his comedy content without recourse to him, and generating whooping revenue from the said copyright infringement.

 

Edwards, who is trading under the name and style of Mayphem International, recalled that in 2009, he started a platform that promotes the comedy industry called ‘KomicRELOUDED’ which according to him, was a print magazine widely accepted by the industry.

 

The plaintiff, in the suit with reference number FHC/L/CS/18/18, averred that in the following year, he rebranded to ‘Comedy+’, adding that he had been maintaining the brand ever since with sales outlets across Nigeria.

 

He said leveraging on the success of the brand ‘Comedy+’, he went into the business of organizing comedy shows and concerts throughout the country, and that over the years, the brand ‘Comedy+’ and ‘ComedyPlus’ have come to be associated with him as signifying publications, comedy shows, entertainment and other events produced, promoted or marketed by him or with his collaboration in both physical and digital platforms, print and electronic media, with substantial reputation by the use of same.

 

However, the plaintiff said on March 17, 2017, MTN launched a digital platform tagged ‘Comedy+’ where it advertised the intent to and where it has continued to wrongfully produce, promote, market and pass off comedy shows and other entertainment without recourse to him as the copyright owner of the brand.

 

Edwards said to his surprise, several comedy artists and members of the public had called to congratulate him on the launch of the digital comedy platform of MTN under the belief that he was the person behind it, adding that being a huge commercial enterprise, MTN wrongfully acquired mileage from a popular brand which he created, to launch into the budding comedy sector in Nigeria.

 

He said the comedy industry had been in its developing stages in Nigeria, and that the brand which he struggled to create, was wrongfully leveraged on by MTN to generate a whooping N112.5billion.

 

According to him, “The stand-up comedy industry in Nigeria has been in its developing or budding stages and the brand ‘Comedy+’ which the plaintiff has built, has become synonymous with the promotion of comedy and entertainment in general in the country and has a reputation of being one of the pioneer stand-up comedy, general comedy and general entertainment promotion brands in the country that have helped to build the art of stand-up comedy into an industry.

 

“The defendant has profited from the passing off of the services and the products of the plaintiff in the excess of N112.5billion as presently known to the plaintiff until search, discovery and inspection.”

 

Giving details of how the figure was arrived at, the plaintiff said his ‘Comedy+’ brand was passed off by MTN to its subscribers which number up to 59 million, while from the defendant’s subscription price list, at the cheapest rate of N250 per month, MTN made N112.5 billion in nine months between March to December 2017 with the number of subscribers limited to 50 million and discounting 9 million.

 

Dissatisfied with the development, the plaintiff said he wrote to MTN through his lawyer on September 12, 2017 complaining of the passing off of his brand, and that the company replied on September 18, 2017 promising to look into the complaint.

 

After waiting for some time without response, the plaintiff said he wrote again to the firm, while on October 23, 2017, MTN responded and denied absolutely any liability, but without denying its use of the brand or trade name ‘Comedy+’.

 

The plaintiff, according to the suit filed on his behalf by Chuks Nwachukwu of Indemnity Partners Law Firm, is therefore seeking an injunction restraining MTN whether by itself, servants, agents or otherwise howsoever from producing, promoting or marketing under the brand name ‘Comedy+’ any comedy related or other entertainment shows or content not produced, promoted or marketed by the plaintiff or with his collaboration.

 

The plaintiff also wants an injunction mandating MTN to render account of profits and receipts so far made using the brand ‘Comedy+’, as well as damages for the wrongful use of the brand.

 

Already, the matter has been assigned to Justice Chuka Obiozor who has fixed hearing of an application for interlocutory injunction in the suit against MTN to October 29, 2018.


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VFD Group Proposes SplitXchange for Financing Nigeria’s Creative Industry

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VFD Group Plc has proposed the introduction of a specialized Exchange that would address the issue of financing in Nigeria’s entertainment and creative industries to bolster foreign exchange earnings and economic development.

Folagbade Adeyemi, the Managing Director of Splitar Limited,  stated this while speaking at the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) quarterly Forum, sponsored by VFD Group Plc.

Adeyemi revealed that the Group is actively pursuing an exchange platform tailored to the media and entertainment sector, offering diverse investment opportunities for both domestic and international investors.

Currently in its development stage, SplitXchange when launched, would offer a platform for financing the media and entertainment industry, among other alternative assets.

According to him, “Seeing the huge potential in alternative assets, Splitar Holdings, through Split Exchange, would drive the alternative assets space with its revolutionary digital exchange.”

He emphasized the potential of this sector to significantly improve the GDP of the country and called for a collaborative approach towards establishing robust frameworks and clear guidelines to support investment in alternative assets leveraging technology.

“Unless we collaboratively set up institutions that can provide data around these asset classes and place a true value on these asset creators to make seeking finance a lot easier, we will not see significant returns.

“A lot of transactions have been ongoing within that space which are not captured within the country’s value chain. That is what SplitXchange seeks to address.”

With Nigeria’s estimated population at 208.8 million people, Adeyemi highlighted the increasing demand for Nigerian content locally and on a global scale.

Speaking on the theme: “Beyond Tradition: Increasing Relevance of Alternative Assets in the Capital Market,” Adeyemi lamented the absence of robust funding pillars in the country.

He emphasized the potential of Entertainment and Media, noting that globally there is an average market size of $41 billion as of 2021 with an estimated growth of 4.2 per cent.

While pointing out investments by Netflix and Amazon, which have churned out blockbuster movies that have gained viewership and streams across the globe, he noted that Nigeria’s biggest investor in the form of Pension Assets was yet to invest in the entertainment or streaming services.

He stressed the need to solve the problems of liquidity, efficiency, and barriers to entry in the country.

“In today’s market, the quick conversion of assets into cash is a challenge due to the absence of a well-structured marketplace that oversees and regulates these assets.

“The automation of processes such as compliance, escrow account management, dividend distribution, corporate action management, and drag-along actions technology presents a significant challenge in today’s alternative market. The high initial cost of assets in this market restricts participation to only affluent individuals and corporate investors,” he said.

He noted that the sector remains excluded from the organized financial sector due to the inability of intermediaries to recognize Intellectual Property (IP) as suitable collateral to access funding. “Projects are financed informally through a network of angel investors, high net worth individuals, non-governmental organizations, government, and personal savings,” Adeyemi said.

Furthermore, he pointed out that investors and asset creators face challenges when seeking investment opportunities or raising capital through traditional financial avenues.

“Traditional financial institutions are ill-equipped to appraise industry opportunities due to poor visibility, data, and income/revenue leakages leading to mispricing through high-interest rates, market illiquidity of associated securities, poor market depth, and lack of accessibility for retail investors,” he said.


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Konga Travel Commences Canadian Visa Services for Professionals and Students

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Konga Travels and Tours, a leading provider of travel services in Nigeria is pleased to announce the launch of its Canadian visa assistance services through strategic partnership with a licensed Canadian immigration company.

Konga Travels is now equipped and in a vantage position to assist clients in realizing their relocation dreams.

The new Canadian visa services cater to the travel needs of diverse category of individuals including students, workers, professionals, and investors looking for new opportunities in Canada.

Applicants can get exclusive packages on business immigration, study in Canada, work permits, as well as visit and tourist visa services with the professional assistance of Konga Travels and Tours.

The Business Immigration visa is tailored to investors interested in conducting business activities in Canada with a pathway to permanent residency. The Study in Canada visa service caters to students aspiring to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies in foreign institutions renowned for their academic excellence and global recognition.

Okezie Akaniro, Senior Vice President of Konga Online Limited expressed excitement about the expansion of the company’s service portfolio saying “We are thrilled to introduce Canadian visa assistance services to our esteemed clients because we understand the aspirations of Nigerians seeking to pursue educational, professional, or business opportunities in Canada.

“This partnership underscores Konga Travels’ commitment to providing holistic travel solutions that meet the diverse needs of our customers, with our expertise and strategic collaboration, we aim to simplify the Canadian immigration process and help individuals achieve their aspirations of studying, working, or investing in Canada,” he stated.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new service, Abiola Bakare, Business Head of Konga Travels and Tours posited, “At Konga Travels, we continuously seek ways to enhance the travel experiences of our customers.

“The introduction of Canadian visa assistance services aligns with our goal of providing end-to-end solutions and simplifying the travel process for our clients.”

Konga Travels and Tours goes beyond processing visa applications. As part of its suite of services, Konga Travels offers flight booking, hotel reservations, and tour packages. Recently, Konga Travels and Tours further enhanced its offerings by partnering with Coronation Insurance to provide comprehensive travel insurance solutions.

For further inquiries, customers are encouraged to contact Konga Travels through any of the official customer touchpoints provided here:

Phone Call: +234 809 460 5555; 0708 063 5700

WhatsApp: +234 (0) 811 211 4488

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Konga Travel

Instagram: @kongatravel


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5 Strategies to Prevent Payment Delays from Hurting Your Business

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Payment delays pose significant challenges for businesses across Africa. Maintaining a steady cash flow is essential for business growth and sustainability, making it crucial to address late or non-payments from customers.

So, how can SMEs effectively prevent payment delays? Let’s explore five actionable strategies to keep revenue flowing smoothly.

Streamline Payment Processes
Smoother payment experiences lead to prompt payments. Simplifying the payment process for customers by offering multiple payment options enhances convenience and reduces the likelihood of delays. It is important to note that collaborating with a reliable payment gateway is fundamental in achieving seamless transactions.

Embrace Subscription Models

Adopting a subscription-based payment model ensures consistent cash flow and predictability in revenue streams. SeerBit has innovative features, such as partial debits and automatic retries which fortify this model, ensuring uninterrupted revenue even amidst payment hiccups.

Digitize Invoicing

Transitioning from paper-based to digital invoicing eliminates delays caused by delivery hiccups, while also minimizing the risk of lost documents. Digital invoicing not only streamlines payment tracking, but also enhances operational efficiency.

Implement Incentives and Penalties

Introducing incentives for early payments and penalties for late payments encourages timely settlements. Customers are motivated to pay promptly to capitalize on discounts and other special deals, while the prospect of additional charges or sanctions deters delays. Reminder notifications serve as gentle nudges, prompting customers to fulfil their payment obligations promptly.

Proactive Payment Management

Partnering with SeerBit empowers businesses to proactively manage payment collections. With a robust payment gateway offering seamless transactions, recurring payment capabilities and digital invoicing services, businesses can effectively mitigate the risks associated with payment delays.

Conclusion

Preventing payment delays is critical for sustaining business operations and fostering growth. The World Bank predicts that late payments cost the global economy over $40billion every year. By implementing these strategies and leveraging the capabilities of SeerBit, businesses can optimize their payment processes, ensuring uninterrupted cash flow and significant long-term success.


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