Nigerian Producer Sam Eli has sued Kenyan rapper and singer, Nyashinski over song used in Tecno endorsement.
Sam Eli moved to court accusing Nyashinski of copyright infringement by signing an endorsement deal with Tecno.
Sam Eli accuses Nyashinski of using the hit song ‘Wach Wach’, which he produced the beats for, to promote and endorse Tecno Mobile’s latest device.
Sam Eli states that as the song producer used in the Tecno commercials by Nyashinski, he is entitled to a percentage of the earnings made from the endorsement deal. Still, his effort to have what is rightfully his has proven futile.
Nyashinski bagged the multimillion shilling deal with Tecno in May this year when he was appointed the brand ambassador of their latest smartphone, Tecno Camon 20.
The court documents say that sometime in 2020, Sam Eli was in the studio in Nairobi composing music when Nyashinski walked in. That was the first time the two met. At the time, Nyashinski was recording his then-album ‘Lucky You’ at the same studio.
Impressed by Sam Eli’s creativity, Nyashinski requested some beats from the studio’s owner and some beats were sent to him.
He picked out the beat originally titled Low_Tint_70 which Sam Eli had produced. A few days later, Nyashinski recorded the song which ended up being titled Wach Wach.
According to the split sheet contract terms, Nyashinski owns 100 percent master rights in the popular song, Wach Wach, while the publishing rights in the song were split equally at 50 percent between Sam Eli and Nyashinski.
The Nigerian producer says that in late May or early June this year, he learnt that his production, Wach Wach, was being used on multiple advertisements by Tecno.
Sam Eli says he immediately contacted Nyashinski, inquiring how his composition was published without his knowledge, but that the rapper informed him that as far as he was concerned, he owns 100 percent of the master rights.
Sam Eli wants the court to find Tecno liable for “illegally” synchronising his composition without his license, consent and approval
