MONROVIA – LoneStar Cell/MTN was expected to show up in Civil Law Court “A” on
Report by Augustine T. Tweh, [email protected]
In a letter to the court, the firm asked for
In a letter addressed to Judge Yussif D. Kabba of the Civil Law Court, the telecommunications firm requested the court to grant them ample time to hire a new lawyer, who will review the case file.
Writes Attorney Jacob K. Dayrell, Sr., the company’s new lawyer: “I most respectfully request a continuance of the above-mentioned case for a period of one week. The previous litigation Counsellor of the firm (CMB Law Group, LLC.), Cllr. D. Onesimus Banwon, was recently commissioned Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit Court, Rivercess County, requiring his departure from the firm.
“I have recently been employed by the firm as the litigation Attorney and hereby request a continuance to enable me to review the file and prepare for adequate representation of our client, Lonestar Communications Corporation.”
Prior to the company’s request, several young men and women in the early morning hours of Wednesday had gathered on the compound of the Temple of Justice in solidarity with the musicians, as they demanded justice.
The angry protesters who were chanting and singing “Rogue, rogue, rogue, Lonestar da rogue” had placards in their hands which read: “Lonestar, this your last bus stop. You must pay! Intellectual property theft is a serious crime! They need their money without delay! Rogue, rogue company, pay our Liberian artists!”
The angry protesters also expressed frustration over the form and manner the Liberian artists are being allegedly treated and exploited the firm.
Some of them called on the civil law court to administer justice without favor.
“I am here for one of the best Liberian artists group because Lonestar used our brothers’ music on their caller ring back tune for long time. The only thing I want here is justice for our musicians,” said Dell Koko Kennedy.
For Michael Woolorpai, the protest is intended to draw the attention of the company to pay the artists money owed them for the use of their music.
“Our artists music is not free. You cannot use the artists music to generate money and you can’t pay them, how do you expect them to eat, feel their children and carrying on their activities? You paid foreign musical artists to come in the country to perform while our brothers are here hungry and suffering,” he said.
At the same time, one of the legal counsels representing the artists, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe told FrontPageAfrica that he and his legal team are prepared to pursue the case to its logical conclusion despite the delay tactics from the company.
“This case is a stepping stone. Our intent is not to extort money; our intent is to make sure that when wrongs are committed against ordinary people, their rights are protected. We hope to make it a landmark case, it is a long way to go because our judicial process is not a one-day thing,” said Cllr. Lighe.
For his part, the General Manager of CT Com, Christopher Hayes Onanuga said the alleged act of Lonestar Cell/MTN is a serious intellectual property crime under the Liberian law.
“No matter how long they go about it, is our business to test the judicial system, to test law at all times and make sure that what we see in front of the Temple of Justice that says that “Justice for All, justice is blind” is applies. You to think that you can take advantage by stealing intellectual property and taking advantage of the individuals images to run promos on stealing, I think the law needs to take its course,” Onanuga added.
Lonestar Cell MTN was dragged to the Civil Law Court on December 3, 2018 by Peter C. Kamara, Francis R. Wollo, Sam Payedo of the group known as “PCK&LFrankie” along with DJ Weezy for illegally using their music “ Kill Your Dog” as customers’ ring back tune.
The group filed the lawsuit “Action of Damages for the Unauthorized Use of the Intellectual Property” claiming the total amount of Three million One Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (USD3,150,000.00) for damages.