Ghanaian music producer Kobby Spiky has emerged victorious in a copyright infringement lawsuit against the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The lawsuit, filed in 2022, accused CAF of using Spiky’s beat “Okomfo Anokye” for promotional purposes without his consent.
Justice Emmanuel Lodoh, presiding over the case, ruled in favor of Spiky after a prolonged two-year legal battle. CAF admitted to using Spiky’s music for promotional activities but denied any commercial use.
In an interview on GhOne TV on July 18, 2024, he expressed his satisfaction with the judgement, noting that it serves as a significant win for the creative industry.
The court ordered CAF to remove all infringing materials from their platforms and awarded Spiky damages amounting to USD 250,000 in Ghanaian cedis.
This win is not just for me, but it’s for the creative industry, for people to know that, hey, they can actually get something from their work. We’ve seen a lot of creatives end up dying paupers or retiring without enough money because people haven’t really given them what they deserve.
Spiky hailed the ruling as a milestone for the creative arts industry in Ghana. He expressed that this victory is not only personal but also significant for young creatives who often feel disenfranchised. “Our legal system works, and intellectual property rights are real and respected in Ghana,” Spiky stated, reinforcing faith in the system.