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Spyder Lee Entertainment, organizers of the maiden GN Bank People's
Choice Awards say they will proceed with the organization of the
disputed awards on March 21.
The name for the awards has been a subject of contention between two
parties – Spyder Lee Entertainment and Evolution International – for
some time now.
Due to the tussle, which ended up in court, an Accra Fast Track High
Court, presided over by Justice Anthony Yeboah on Thursday, February
26 2015 placed an injunction restraining both parties from using the
name 'People's Choice Awards'.
The ruling is, however not stopping Spyder Lee Entertainment from
organizing the awards which seek to reward and celebrate individuals
and organizations which have excelled in their various fields in the
Ghanaian Arts and Entertainment industry.
The organizers said this in a statement signed by Edwin Kweku
Edinkrah, CEO, Spyder Lee Entertainment, and copied Myjoyonline.com.
Read the unedited statement below:
We have noticed with great concern the growing level of falsehood
being peddled within the media about the GN Bank People's Choice
Awards. With this release, we seek to clarify and state the facts as
such.
Spyder Lee Entertainment, organizers of the GN Bank People's Choice
Awards have been involved in a legal tussle with Evolution
International over the ownership of the name People's Choice Awards.
Spyder Lee Entertainment successfully and legally registered People's
Choice Awards as a business at the Registrar General's Department and
subsequently registered GN Bank People's Choice Awards as a trademark.
In April 2014, Spyder Lee Entertainment in a two-week media campaign
massively publicized the introduction of the awards and went on to
launch the awards in November 2014.
Surprisingly, weeks after the launch event, Spyder Lee Entertainment
was notified of the registration of Peoples Choice Awards by Evolution
International and a request to desist from the use of the name
People's Choice Awards which resulted in a lawsuit.
At the hearing at the Fast Track High Court on Thursday 26th February
2015, the presiding judge, Justice Anthony Yeboah, placed an
injunction restraining both parties from using the name 'People's
Choice Awards' until the case is settled between both parties.
However, certain media houses in their publication have categorically
stated that an injunction has been placed on the 21st March 2015
Awards Night scheduled for the Accra International Conference Centre
which is untrue.
We assure all nominees and the general public of our commitment to
work within the framework of the laws governing the Republic of Ghana
to ensure that the awards night comes off as planned amidst all the
pomp and pageantry as expected.
Contrary to media reportage, the show has not been canceled and we are
still preparing towards the 21st March 2015 show and in compliance
with the court order.
The planning process for this awards didn't start in 2014 and there is
enough documentation available to prove that the process even started
before Evolution International allegedly filed for a trademark in
2011.
To organize an awards scheme of such magnitude is a long and expensive
process and everyone involved can attest to this.
Spyder Lee Entertainment respects the rule of law and if our courts
forbid us from using the words "People" and "Choice", we will surely
obey.
The point of this awards scheme is to give the general public the
opportunity to determine the practitioners within the Arts and
Entertainment Industry they think should be awarded and celebrated.
Whether we say it is their "choice", or their "selection" or their
"will" does not change the spirit of the awards. Whether we call our
citizens the "People", or the "Fans" or anything else does not affect
our commitment to involving them in deciding who wins what at the
awards night.
It is our hope that Evolution International will respect that when we
announce the new name of our event.
Our doors are always open and we will appreciate any media house that
contacts us for clarity when in doubt before going ahead to
misrepresent the facts in the spirit of professional journalistic
practice.
Thank you.
Signed
Edwin Kweku Edinkrah
CEO, Spyder Lee Entertainment
