A Federal High Court has dismissed the copyright infringement suit filed against Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Joseph Egbu (Sinach), bringing to an end a legal dispute over the ownership and rights to her globally acclaimed worship song, Way Maker.
The case was instituted by music producer Michael Oluwole, popularly known as Maye, who claimed to be a co-author and co-owner of the hit song. He had sought billions of naira in damages, arguing that his contributions to the recording entitled him to copyright ownership and a share of the revenues generated from the song.
However, the court dismissed the suit after finding that the claims failed to establish a legal basis for copyright ownership against the award-winning gospel artiste. The ruling effectively affirms Sinach’s position regarding the authorship and ownership of Way Maker, one of the most successful gospel songs to emerge from Nigeria in recent years.
The legal battle had attracted significant attention within Nigeria’s music industry because of its potential implications for copyright ownership, studio collaborations and intellectual property rights. Observers noted that the outcome reinforces the importance of clear contractual agreements between artistes, producers and other creative contributors during music production.
Released in 2015, Way Maker has become a global worship anthem, translated into several languages and recorded by numerous international gospel artistes. The song has earned widespread acclaim, cementing Sinach’s reputation as one of Africa’s most influential gospel musicians.
