Veteran Ghanaian rapper, Obrafuor has sued American rapper, Drake for copyright infringement. According to details of the suit that has been shared online via the District Court of Southern District of New York, Obrafour is suing Drake for sampling his “Oye Ohene (Remix)” in his song “Calling My Name.”
Details of the suit suggest that Drake had sought permission to sample the song via email but the email was never responded to. He however, went ahead to release the track which was featured in an album days later.
“Obrafour had not yet responded to the June 8, 2022 Clearance Email or the follow-up June 13, 2022 Clearance Email at the point when Drake’s “Honestly, Nevermind” album was released on June 17, 2022. Nonetheless, the Infringing Work is one of the songs appearing on the “Honestly, Nevermind” album, as released to the world by ‘surprise’ on June 17, 2022,” the suit reads.
Based on the success of the song which was on Drake’s highly published, “Honestly, Nevermind” album, Obrafour is asking for $10,000,000 as compensation.
“Obrafour sues for copyright infringement under the Copyright Act, and seeks all remedies afforded to him thereunder, including preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, monetary damages, including but not limited to, actual damages, profits directly and indirectly attributable to from Defendants’ infringing conduct, statutory damages under the Copyright Act in the sum of up to $150,000.00 per infringement where such infringement commenced after the Copyrighted Work was registered with the United States Copyright Office, and other economic relief,” part of the suit reads.
See full suit here;
🚨BREAKING🇬🇭🎶🇺🇸: Ghana’s Rap Sofo, @iamobrafour sues @Drake for copyright infringement for sampling "Oye Ohene (Remix)" in the track "Calling My Name."
Apparently, Drake' previously sought permission to use the work but was declined. He released the track days later. pic.twitter.com/TCPvkmlrPX
— Ölele | Deep Throat Sauce👨🏾🍳🇬🇭 (@OleleSalvador) April 19, 2023
(Source: Ameyaw Debrah)
