Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 27 JUNE 2025

How Nigerian Hotels Can Avoid Copyright Lawsuits Over Music & Broadcasts

Balogun Harold Legal
Explore more from Balogun Harold Legal

A recent decision by the Federal High Court in favour of a popular Lagos hotel underscores the importance of adopting a strategic approach to music and content broadcasting within the premises of Nigerian...

NigeriaIntellectual Property
Olubunmi Abayomi-Olukunle
Olubunmi Abayomi-Olukunle
Adekunle Adewale
Adekunle Adewale

A recent decision by the Federal High Court in favour of a popular Lagos hotel underscores the importance of adopting a strategic approach to music and content broadcasting within the premises of Nigerian hotels, clubs, restaurants and entertainment centres. In that case, a copyright collection society sued the hotel for playing music within its premises without paying royalties to music copyright holders. The Court dismissed the claim, offering important clarity for hotel operators ( the "Judgement"). Here are some quick legal tips to help hospitality businesses avoid similar legal pitfalls.

1. Rely on Licensed Broadcasters Only

Based on the Judgement, it would be prudent for Nigerian hotels to use reputable subscription services who have negotiated licenses with copyright collection societies to play or broadcast music or other entertainment shows within the hotel premises. In this case, the Court held that hotels using licensed broadcasters to broadcast music

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Legal Safeguards Against Fashion Design Piracy In Nigeria

Fashion design piracy poses a significant threat to Nigeria's creative industry, with designers facing unauthorized copying of their original works. This analysis examines the intellectual property frameworks available to Nigerian fashion designers, including copyright, trademark, patent, and industrial design protections, while exploring the practical challenges of enforcement in a rapidly evolving industry where knockoffs and counterfeits proliferate faster than legal remedies can address them.
NigeriaIntellectual Property
G ELIAS
G ELIAS
Article

Fake Products In Nigeria: Legal Remedies, Civil Actions, And Brand Protection Strategies

Fake products in Nigeria require swift legal remedies, decisive civil actions, and proactive brand protection strategies to safeguard consumers and businesses. Without urgent intervention, unsuspecting buyers lose hard-earned money and suffer severe physical harm from substandard goods, while brand owners watch illegal syndicates clone their original packaging, steal their revenue, and destroy decades of commercial goodwill overnight.
NigeriaIntellectual Property
Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL)
Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL)
Article

Nigeria Clarifies Copyright Ownership Of Musical Works

A Nigerian Federal High Court has ruled on a high-stakes copyright dispute over the globally acclaimed gospel song "Way Maker," examining whether a music producer's technical contributions to a recording constitute co-authorship. The judgment clarifies the critical distinction between creative authorship and production services in determining copyright ownership. This decision carries significant implications for how the music industry documents and allocates rights between artists and technical contributor
NigeriaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams
Article

Inside The New NFF $8.5m Kit And Merch Deal With Adidas: What It Signals For Sports And IP In Africa

The Nigeria Football Federation's landmark partnership with Adidas, worth a guaranteed $8.5 million annually, marks a significant shift in how African sports federations structure commercial deals. Beyond the headline figures lies a sophisticated intellectual property framework built on merchandise royalties, brand protection, and licensing rights that could reshape the commercial landscape of African sport.
NigeriaIntellectual Property
Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL)
Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL)
Article

The Business Of Creativity: Legal Risks In Nigeria's Creator Economy

Nigeria's creator economy has moved from informal hustle to an investable industry. The 2025 Nigerian Creator Economy Report (NCER), the first government-backed assessment of the sector, valued it at $31.2 million, with the music industry alone paying artists roughly ₦58 billion in royalties in 2024, and the fashion sector growing into a $4.7 billion contributor to GDP. Industry forecasters expect the broader African creator economy to multiply several times over by the end of the decade.
NigeriaIntellectual Property
Compos Mentis Legal Practitioners
Compos Mentis Legal Practitioners
Article

An Overview Of The Economic Valuation Of Intellectual Property Assets

We currently live in an era where the most valuable assets of a corporation may never be seen, touched, or physically inspected. Patents governing life-saving pharmaceutical compounds, trademarks representing decades of consumer trust, software architectures powering digital economies, and trade secrets encoding proprietary processes have displaced machinery, land, and buildings as the primary reservoirs of corporate wealth.
NigeriaIntellectual Property
SPA Ajibade & Co
SPA Ajibade & Co
Article

Cost Of Trademark Registration In Nigeria

Understanding the complete financial investment required for trademark registration in Nigeria involves navigating official government fees, professional legal costs, and potential additional expenses that may arise during the application process. This comprehensive guide breaks down each cost component and provides practical strategies for businesses and foreign investors to budget effectively for trademark protection.
NigeriaIntellectual Property
Adeola Oyinlade & Co
Adeola Oyinlade & Co