Prominent Nigerian born American singer, David Adeleke widely known as Davido was in April embroiled in controversy worth tarnishing his stellar music career. The controversy bordered on his alleged violation of US intellectual property and copyright law.
For Nigerian music artistes whose names are given as: David Ovhioghena Umaru, Martins Chukwuka Emmanuel, Kelvin Ayodele Campbell, and Abel Great Umaru filed a suit against Davido in a New York court over Davido’s alleged theft of the soundtrack in 2022.
According to the plaintiffs, while seeking music collaboration with Davido in 2022, the four artistes submitted their recorded individual instrumental and vocal aspect of their song “work” . However, rather than see to the music collaboration, Davido reportedly released the song in 2022 under a different title: “strawberry on ice” and in collaboration with another music artist: Emmerson Amidu Bockarie at the expense of the four plaintiffs.
After severally seeking an out of court settlement with Davido whom the group had requested he paid them $45,000 for infringing on their intellectual rights, Davido was evasive and unwilling to meet to their demands.
Consequently, the four Nigerian artists would seek redress in a United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan demanding that Davido pay them $150,000 in damages for allegedly stealing their intellectual property. The group also requested that the court mandate Davido to pay them royalty from the songs: “strawberry on ice”
Davido was thereafter summoned by the court, ordering him to appear before the court within 21 days over charges bordering on intellectual property and copyright violation brought against him by the four Nigerians.
However, Reliant.ng understands that New York court has now thrown out the suit as Davido and the four artists appear to have reached an out of court settlement.
Records show that the counsel to the plaintiffs has notified the court of their intention to voluntarily withdraw the suit after reaching an agreement with Davido.
Reacting to the development, fans and followers of Davido expressed their deep relief over how the litigation against Davido has been amicably settled. Some suggested that if the group of artists did secure a victory over Davido in court that it would soiled his music career.
Hence, the New York court in its motion, accepted the voluntary withdrawal of the suit as requested by the plaintiffs.
There have been allegation against the music superstar over his ability to come up with his written songs. Recall that his contemporaries and countrymen, Wizkid and Burna Boy in the cold war had taunted Davido over his relying on others to create songs for him.
The singer is said to be lacking in literary and lyrical ability to birth his ideas into songs. Despite his obvious music talent, speculation has it that the major music breakthrough releases from Davido were composed by others. Artists such as Tekno and Patoranking have publicly admitted writing songs for Davido.
However, Burna who exerts himself as the best living hip hop singer of Nigeria descent boasted that unlike Davido, he does not rely on anybody for his music composition. Wizkid had also made similar claims about his own music career.
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