Nigerian photographer, Emmanuel Okolo has engaged in a legal battle
with popular singer, Tuface Idibia, his wife Annie, and one Antonio
Anifite before a Federal High Court in Lagos in a N120 million copyright
infringement suit for allegedly using photographs he took of them at
their
traditional wedding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in 2013, without
giving him credit as the owner of the photos.
According to a report by Channels TV, in the suit which was filed
before Justice Mohammed Idris, Emmanuel claims that during the couple’s
wedding in 2013, he took some photographs and watermarked them using his
company name. Emmanuel says that some days after the wedding, Annie
contacted him and asked for the photographs which he immediately sent to
her. Upon receiving his photos, he said Annie complained about his
watermark on the photos and asked that they be removed. He said Annie
sent Antonio Anifite to negotiate with him.
He claims that he immediately released the photos to Antonio free of
charge with the understanding that when it will be uploaded on Tuface’s
personal website, “2faceonline.com”, he will be duely credited. Emmanuel
says he was surprised to find out that when the photos where uploaded,
148 out of the 355 high resolution photographs he took were uploaded
with “2faceonline.com” watermark on them.
Emmanuel who claims to be a certified film maker from the prestigious
London Film Academy and a holder of a Masters of Arts degree from
Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries, South Wales, United
Kingdom, says he suffered general and exemplary damages which he is
seeking 120 million Naira compensation from 2face, Annie and Anifite.
However in a counter suit filed by the Idibia’s for which they are
claiming N150 million in damages, they say Emmanuel was never invited by
them to take photos at their wedding, that he was just one of the many
uninvited photographers who came to their wedding to make some money
via photography.
The Idibia’s in their suit, say that after their wedding, they
noticed strange copies of their wedding photos in circulation with
Emmanuel’s studio watermark on them and after finding out they were
taken by him, they approached him, expressing their displeasure. He
apologized and also forced the photos on the Idibia’s, saying he wants
them to use it so he can leverage on their popularity.
They however made him understand that the only way they will use the
photos was for his watermarks to be completely removed. This he
allegedly agreed to. The Idibia’s say they were shocked when after
uploading the photographs, he wrote a pre-litigation letter to them
demanding that his watermarks be boldly inscribed across the photographs
and a letter of apology. The Idibia’s say the photos were immediately
pulled down from 2face’s official website as the watermarked photos
would distort the original idea of his website.
“The second plaintiff (Okolo), through his several guile, deceit,
cunning gate-crashing and opportunistic posturing carefully planned and
orchestrated the entire events leading to the institution of this suit
with the express intention of embarrassing, harassing and blackmailing
the first and third defendants (Annie and 2face) with a view to
extorting money from them,” they further claimed in their counter-claim.
They accused the photographer of having a premeditated plan to
blackmail them and extort money from them. They urged the judge to order
Okolo and his studio to pull down all the photographs of them that the
photographer had circulated. They are also praying the court to order
Okolo and his studio to “render forthwith, account as well as make full
and frank disclosure of all sums and profit made by them as a result of
unauthorised commercial usage” of their photographs.
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