Court Dismisses Co-Authorship Claim Over “Way Maker,” Clarifies Producers’ Rights

A Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a claim for co-authorship and co-ownership of the hit song “Way Maker.” The court found that the claimant was engaged to mix and master an existing recording for a fee, while the defendant had created and performed the song before that engagement. The ruling reaffirmed that copyright in a musical composition belongs first to the person who creates its original lyrics, melody, harmony or arrangement. Registration is not required for ownership to arise. Technical work such as mixing, mastering or engineering does not automatically make a person a co-author of the underlying song. The court also stressed the legal difference between a musical work and its sound recording. Producers and engineers may have rights connected to a recording or performance, but they must show original creative input into the composition itself before claiming ownership of the song. For Nigerian artistes, producers and studios, the lesson is clear: document every contributor’s role and agree in writing on ownership, credits, royalties and rights in both the composition and the sound recording. The decision remains subject to the claimant’s right of appeal.

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