There has been a heated discussion on social media after Sauti Sol threatened to sue Azimio la Umoja for using their song without their authorization.
Sauti Sol went after Azimio because they played their extravaganza song during the unveiling of Martha Karua as Raila’s running mate at KICC on Monday.
Responding to the matter, ODM however said that they used Sauti Sol’s song because they love and value the work of the band.
Music Copyright Society of Kenya CEO Ezekiel Mutua has now weighed in on the matter in a bid to clear the air and put an end to the discussion.
Mutua said that Raila’s presidential campaign team complied with copyright laws and were licensed to use local songs whose owners are members of MCSK in their campaigns while faulting the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) for the confusion
“This is a totally misleading and misguided statement by KECOBO. We licensed the Raila Odinga Presidential campaign using the existing tariffs gazetted by the Govt. Our members, including Sauti Sol, have assigned their rights to MCSK to administer copyright on their behalf,” Mutua said
In a statement, KECOBO had said that Azimio was only licensed to use the local and international music for public performance and not as sound tracks in visual images and they needed synchronization license to do so.
KECOBO further said that the matter can be solved amicably within the parties involved with or without compensation.
Mutua however said that MSCK has been licensing synchronization for decades. He further called upon KECOBO to keep off the matter as it was not a Collective Management Organization(CMO).
“The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) has been licensing synchronization for decades. We cannot issue half licenses. KECOBO failed to license the proposed new tariffs and should keep off this matter as they are not a CMO,” he said.
“The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) has been licensing synchronization for decades. This license is issued jointly by all the CMOs to ensure that all rights are covered. If there’s any issue of interpretation of the law, the problem is not with the user but KECOBO,”Mutua added.
The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) has been licensing synchronisation for decades. This license is issued jointly by all the CMOs to ensure that all rights are covered. If there’s any issue of interpretation of the law, the problem is not with the user but KECOBO. pic.twitter.com/vYvjD2IRik
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, MBS (@EzekielMutua) May 17, 2022
So far, Sauti Sol are already feeling the impact of their claims against Raila’s team as their following on YouTube has dropped to 903,000 from 905,000.
RELATED STORY:ODM Responds To Sauti Sol Moments After The Band Threatened To Take Legal Action Against Azimo
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