Update

Bella Shmurda Sued For Copyright Infringement and Breach of Contract by Record Label

Published

3 years ago

August 2, 2021

One Word Global Records Limited has released a notice on social media, suing Bella Shmurda for alleged copyright infringement and breach of contract, following his non-compliance to his contract with the label.

According to the suit filed at the Federal high court of Nigerian, Lagos by the CEO of the label, Prince Nkem Onyenwenu, Bella Shmurda signed a contract with the company back in 20219 and fast forward to 2021, even though he is not out of the contract, the singer has continuously breached the terms of their contract.

The label claims, the afro-fusion artiste has, contrary to the provision of their contract, engaged in the unauthorized release of songs, EPs, videos, publication, distribution, and promotion without the consent of the record label.

Prince Nkem Onyenwenu also claimed that the name “Bella Shmurda” belongs to the record label and shouldn’t have been used by the artiste and they’re suing Bella for 200 Million Naira for damages for the breach of the Contract.

See press release and court order below;

“NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AGAINST MR. AKINBIYI ABIOLA AHMED (popularly known as “Bella Shmurda”)

This is to inform the general public that One Word Global Records Limited (“One Word”) has filed a copyright and trademark infringement suit against Mr. Akinbiyi Abiola Ahmed, popularly known as Bella Shmurda.

Mr. Ahmed has a subsisting contract with One Word, and has, inspite of this, consistently violated the terms of his Contract. He has continued to engage in the release, publication, distribution and promotion of songs and videos, among others, without the consent and authorization of the One Word. Mr. Ahmed has also consistently engaged in collaborations with other artistes without the consent and authorization of the record label. All of these, by the terms of Mr. Ahmed’s contract with One Word, amount, among other things, to infringement of One Word’s trademark to the name and its copyright to all the associated recordings and musical works.

Without going through the legal process of terminating his Contract with One Word, Mr. Ahmed has gone as far as publicly stating that he is signed onto another record label.

The general public is hereby put on notice to avoid all interactions, engagements, commercial and business dealings with anyone in the name, “Bella Shmurda,” or the musical works released under or in connection with the name. One Word will not hesitate to commence similar legal proceedings against any person or organization who aids, assists or partakes in the violation of its trademark and associated copyright.