The ongoing legal tussle between Ghanaian hiplife rapper, Obrafuor and Canadian rapper Drake over copyright infringement has recently experienced a strange new twist.
Obrafour is seeking $10 million from Drake for sampling his ‘Oye Ohene’ Remix on his track ‘Calling My Name’ without permission.
However, Mantse Nii Aryeequaye, the Chief Executive Officer of Chale Wote Street Arts Festival and music producer, is claiming sole ownership of the same soundbite that Obrafour has filed in New York Courts.
The producer in a series of tweets on social media challenged Obrafour’s claim of ownership because he did not pay for the beat hence the intellectual property is actually his and not the “Pae Mu Ka” rapper.
Earlier on Wednesday, April 19, Robert Freund, a lawyer for brands, agencies, and creators shared in court documents on social media a lawsuit by Ghanaian rapper, Obrafour who was seeking “at least $10 million in damages” against Drake for alleged copyright infringements.
“Obrafour says Drake’ previously sought permission to use the work, didn’t get it, and released the track days later anyway.”
Lawyers of Obrafuor who filed the case in the Southern District of New York are asking the court to enter into judgment that the “Defendant willfully infringed Obrafour’s Copyrighted Work in violation of the Copyright Act” among other reliefs
Drake joins a list of Hollywood artists who have faced similar lawsuits for unauthorized use of samples, including Kanye West, Robin Thicke, and Pharrell Williams.
Source: 3news.com
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