Zangalewa group sues La Pasta for copyright breach

The Group, Zangalewa accuses the company, La Pasta of exploiting its work without permission for commercial purposes.

For operating without permission of the work 'waka Waka' by the Group Zangalewa, facts provided by and punishable under articles 74 of the penal code, 80 and following, the company Sony/Atv music that represents shares of copyrights of artists Jean Ze Bella, Emile Kojidie and Eugène Victor Doo Belley on the artwork 'WakaWaka' demands from the company La Pasta, the sum of five hundred and fifty million FCFA as compensation for exploitation as stipulated by article 24 of the law.

According to law No. 2000/011 of December 19 on the right to a copyright and neighboring rights in Cameroon in act 22, it states that "the exploitation of a work by someone other that the first owner of the copyright can not take place without the consent of the latter by writing".

"It is therefore consecutive infringement and exploitation of a literary or artistic work made in violation of this Act by the reproduction, representation by any means whatsoever" act 80 (1-a).

A provision which has been infringed by La Pasta. Jean Ze Bella, Emile Kojidie and Victor Eugène Doo Belley are songwriters of the music "Zangalewa", song which was transformed by the artiste Shakira to produce a derivative work "waka waka", which was selected as the official song for the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

La Pasta company has now exploited it for the promotion of its products. The first hearing in the case is scheduled Tuesday, August 12 at the High Court in the Wouri.