In 2015, a Jamaican singer, Garfield Spence, also known as Konshens, sued Airtel Uganda for distributing his songs, including Gyal a bubble, So Mitan, and Simple Song, without his permission. He also said they refused to give him any royalties.
The High Court in Kampala has mandated that Airtel Uganda pay him $180,000 (or roughly USh 670 million) in general damages for copyright infringement.
The plaintiff claimed that the defendants had illegally obtained his songs and sold them to Airtel subscribers for USh 600 each as caller tunes for the “Hello Tunes” programme.
Thus, the court found the defendants guilty of copyright infringement and unjust enrichment.
Along with USh 20 million ($5,300) in exemplary damages for copyright infringement, the court also granted general damages at an interest rate of 15% per year from the date of filing the lawsuit until payment in full.
