Why We Picketed Raddison Blu Ikeja —AVRS

AISHA ABUBAKAR

The Audio Visuals Right Society, AVRS, on Tuesday disrupted activities at the prestigious Raddison Blu Hotel on Issac John Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos, after the hospitality outfit management refused to pay royalties for making use of its members’ audio-visual contents in its chain of hotels.

The Copyright Management Organisation led by its Chairman and renowned movie producer, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, stated that the picketing of the hotel became necessary after months of dialogue and negotiations broke down without any agreement being reached.

According to Alli-Balogun, the CMO, prior to Tuesday’s action, had petitioned the Inspector General of Police against the hotel’s illegal use of intellectual property of their members but after series of meetings with the lawyers representing the hotel management, they showed no genuine interest in resolving the issue with AVRS thus the picketing of their facility.

“We petitioned the Inspector General of police who invited the hotel management, but they were represented by their lawyers. We have been going back and front on this matter. They are taking us for granted. It’s not about the hotel’s lawyers but the attitude of the hotel itself that charges about N90,000 per night yet cannot pay for audio-visual licences in its chain of hotels. That is unacceptable to us,” Alli-Balogun said.

Another member told our correspondent that the action became necessary to send signals not only to Raddison Blu hotel chain but to all other users of audio-visual works that it is time to begin to pay for contents.

Top Nollywood actors including Jide Kosoko, Fred Amata, Yemi Solade, Emeka Ossai, Yinka Akanbi, Ejike Asiegbu, Grace Amah and many others joined to picket the 4-Star hospitality giant.

Meanwhile, P.M.EXPRESS learnt that after Tuesday’s action, several other hotels have been reaching out to AVRS Management and its board members on what they need to do to avoid being picketed.