A Nigerian legal firm, Remedium Law Partners has demanded one million pounds from a United Kingdom (UK) based cable television station, Sky TV, as compensation for copyright infringement over a Television programme titled “Urban Kitchen”.
Paul Michael, Public Relations Officer, Remedium Law Firm said this in a statement issued and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
The law firm via an email had accused Solution Media and InfoTech Ltd and Hi-Impact TV of fraudulently broadcasting “Urban Kitchen” without due authorisation and permission from State Television, the producer of the content.
He, therefore, demanded the sum of N100 million as compensation for copyright infringement.
According to Michael, the Television station started airing the TV programme while it has not concluded an agreement with State Television, for an authorised broadcast of its TV programme, “Urban Kitchen”.
He stated that, while the agreement for the authorised broadcast of “Urban Kitchen” ought to be within Nigeria only, it extended the broadcast of the content to the UK.
Michael added that Sky TV UK with millions of viewers globally had been airing the TV programme without the consent of the producer, Sate Television.
The law firm also demanded the sum £250,000 from Solution Media and InfoTech Uk Ltd as compensation for Copyright violation of the said TV programme.
According to him, a 21 days deadline was given to both Solution Media and InfoTech Ltd and Hi-Impact TV, Sky TV UK as well as Solution Media and InfoTech UK Ltd to comply with the demands or be prepared to face legal action.
However, reacting to the allegation, Sky TV Viewer Relations, Elyse, via an email to Remedium Law Partners, thanked the law firm for the email sent to SKY TV and promised to look into the alleged copyright infringement.
According to the email by SKY TV, ”I can confirm that this is currently receiving our attention and a reply will be forwarded as soon as possible.”