Renowned Nigerian skit creator, Sabinus, has sued Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria Plc – producers of Peak Milk – for the usage of his famous ‘something Hooge’ phrase.
A notification sent to the Company by the content creator’s lead counsel, Stanley Alieke, noticed that the phrase was a registered brand name; yet, Friesland Foods used it to advertise their products without Sabinus’ authorisation.
Sabinus is currently demanding a payment of N500m for the unapproved utilization of his intellectual property.
Lead counsel, Stanley Alieke said:
He is also demanding another N500m for the “emotional, physical, psychological and mental trauma our client has suffered for the trademark theft and the infringement of his intellectual rights property.”
On May 24, Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria Plc used ‘Something Hooge is coming’ to advertise their ‘Peak National Breakfast Week’ project ahead of the World Milk Day on June 1.
The legal counselor for Sabinus expressed that the post accumulated enormous traffic and engagements, and pulled in immense followership to the company’s Instagram page since his client’s picture was used for the promotion and advert.
Mr Aliete noted that “it will interest you to know that the phrase ‘something hooge’, which was popularised by our client, has been trademarked and legally reserved as his intellectual property by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment.”
“The said slogan was trademarked on the 26th of November 2021 with the file number: NG/TM/O/2021/48316. 10. On this note, we make the demand for the payment of the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500m) as compensation for the unauthorized use of the intellectual property belonging to our client.”
In a different turn of events, Sabinus is also demanding about N100m from another organization, UAC Food Ltd.
The company has been accused of using the content creator’s ‘likeness’ — an animated image of him — and a few other intellectual properties to advertise their product ‘Gala Sausage Roll’ without consent from him.
“We demand that you pay our client the sum of one hundred million Naira (N100m) for the use of the picture which is the average fee our client charges for his picture to be used for adverts and promotions,” part of the notice written to the company reads.
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