It was reported somewhere last year that a man
by name Obuobi Jeremiah has taken Sarkodie to
court over his Sark collection. The two were in
court not long and Sarkodie's lawyers filled for
defense in curt. Now the two, Sarkodie and
Obobi are ready to face the court for the issue
to be treated as it is.
Flex newspaper, broke a story headlined,
'Sarkodie sued GHC 90,000 over Sark Logo in
our last year Wednesday 20th November
publication.
In the said publication, one Obuobi Jeremiah
(aka OB J) alleged that he is the one who
initiated the idea of starting a clothing line with
musician Sarkodie and had several meetings with
the latter and his management to that effect.
Obuobi alleged that he provided the design,
style, logo, art work and also suggested the
name Sark to Sarkodie and his management
team.
Oboubi alleged that he went ahead to produce
samples of Sark T-shirts and even provided
freebies (T-shirts) to fans of Sarkodie during the
latter's Rapperholic concert at the Dome of the
conference centre.
Before he could finalize memorandum of
understanding with Sarkodie and his team, he
read in the media that Sarkodie has launched a
clothing line called Sark Collections. Riled
Obuobi sought legal action by serving Sarkodie
and his team a summon letter through his
solicitors and legal advisers – Akufo-Addo,
Prempeh & Co Chambers represented by
Barrister Kwabena Boye Adjekumhehe.
The case was opened for first hearing but we
gathered the Defense Council (Sarkodie and his
lawyers) did not show up in court. The case was
therefore adjourned to 9th January, 2014. On
Thursday 9th January, 2014, the case was
opened again. Council for Sarkodie, Moses Foh-
Amoaning, pleaded with the court to allow them
prepare and file for proper defense which the
court granted. The case was heard in
Commercial Court E, started at 9:00am and
ended sitting on the case at 9:20am.
Following up on the story, Flex newspaper
gathered that Sarkodie's Council has officially
filled for defense. In an interview with Obuobi
Jeremiah, he confirmed, "yes, lawyers of
Sarkodie have finally filled for defense in court.
They are ready to fight and we are also ready
for them." In commercial cases (like OBJ and
Sarkodie's), the case is first tested in a Pre-Trial,
meaning, the Plaintiff (Obuobi Jeremiah) and the
Defendant (Sarkodie) sit with a court arbiter to
solve the case amicably.
If both parties agree to deal with the case out of
court based on whatever understanding they
reach, the case dies off there; else, they resort
to the court for judicial judgment.
Since lawyers of Sarkodie have finally filled for
defense, what it means is that there shall be no
Pre-Trial. The two parties are now going to test
the case in a civil court where Ghana's copyright
laws shall be properly opened and dissected.
The legal team of Obuobi is demanding a
whopping GHC 90,000, proper rendering of
accounts of all shoes, clothing and accessories
of which Obuobi created but were allegedly sold
by Sarkodie and his management team at he,
Obuobi's expense.
Flex newspaper prayed and wished both parties
reached an amicable solution but since
Sarkodie's council have filled for defense, we
guess our showbiz industry might be getting a
case study for reference as far as copyright or
Intellectual Property infringement is concerned.
Flex newspaper promises to follow up on this
story for publication as and when due.
