Soundcity has taken a decision to stop playing the music videos of Nigeria’s most successful band, Psquare.

Psquare responded by calling out Soundcity on social media.

And now both sides appear to be at war, with accusations and counter accusations; but you see, the music business and public statements should be handled with the same care as any other business, having in mind the possibilities of legal liabilities.

Psquare through manager/co-director, Jude Okoye, has made statements which may be damaging to the reputation of Soundcity and which could negatively affect the business of Soundcity.

If such statements are untrue, that could be a good case for defamation.

And that’s my point exactly, they are absolutely false.

Psquare has made Soundcity out to be an exploitative entertainment company that does not pay royalties for the works they air on their platform(s).

However, this is terribly untrue, as I have personally confirmed from the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).

Psquare has a right to insist on a fee for their performance as they did with Soundcity.

Soundcity on the other hand, also has a right to determine who and what gets played on their station.

But Psquare does not have a right to defame Soundcity and that could be the game changer that could make Soundcity emerge the winner in this battle of entertainment industry heavyweights.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Justin Ige MCIArb is Managing Partner at CREATIVE LEGAL, a Media and Entertainment Law practice. [email protected], twitter: @ogalawya #ogalawya