Entertainment law goes beyond intellectual property – Rockson Igelige

Barrister Rockson Akpotiri Igelige studied law at the Delta State University, Oleh Campus. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus and started his legal practice with Justice Joshua Efe Ikede. He attended the University of Westminster, London to study Entertainment law. In this interview, he speaks about his background, Intellectual property and Entertainment Law. […]

Barrister Rockson Akpotiri Igelige studied law at the Delta State University, Oleh Campus. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus and started his legal practice with Justice Joshua Efe Ikede. He attended the University of Westminster, London to study Entertainment law. In this interview, he speaks about his background, Intellectual property and Entertainment Law.

Could you please tell us about your background?
I was born on 1st June, 1971 to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Tanjele Igelige of Oleh at Ibi Town of the then Benue Plateau State now Taraba State. I had my primary education at Odoro Primary School, Oleh. I then proceeded to Emore Grammar School, Oleh for my secondary school education. My passion for the world of entertainment prompted me to study Theatre Arts at University of Benin, Benin-City from 1992 to 1996. I did my compulsory National Youth Service Corp from 1997 to 1998. I served in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State. In Yobe State, during my Youth Service, I was engaged in a lot of Community Development Services. I initiated an Educational Enlightenment Campaign on the importance of Western Education by using and exploring the potentials of the local musicians in driving home my message. I also did a documentary show casing the economic and tourist potentials of Geidam town. At the end of my service year, my effort was crowned with NYSC Yobe State Award and Yobe State News Award for my exceptional contributions to the state. I am married to His Worship, E. V. Igelige with three lovely kids.
Tell us more about your carreer as a lawyer, politician and Theatre Arts graduate?
After my National Youth Service sometime in 1998, political events were redefined with the death of Sani Abacha. That was when my people called on me to run for the office of a Councillor of Oleh Ward1 Isoko South L.G.A. I ran under the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP)and I won. I served as Supervisory Councillor for Health within the first few months before the presidential system was introduced to the council by the Delta State House of Assembly. I served as the Speaker/Leader of the House from 1999 to 2012.
It was within this period of my political career that I secured an admission to study law at the Delta State University, Oleh Campus. I later proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus for my BL. I started my legal practice with Justice Joshua Efe Ikede. I was under his tutelage when I secured an admission to the University of Westminster, London to study Entertainment law sometime in 2011 but because of paucity of fund I had to write the university for deferment of my admission till 2012. Even at then, my hope of getting fund for the programme was bleak. I was at the Nigerian Bar Conference in Kaduna with my wife, E. V. Igelige (as she then was) when I got a call from the Aso Rock Villa to come over to pick a recommendation letter from the Office of the Senior Special Adviser on Media to Mr. President. The letter was addressed to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice ( AGF). It was a sealed letter. I submitted the letter and left but within one week I got a call from the Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice that I have been assigned to represent Mr. President, Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police in a suit coming up at the State High Court, Asaba. With tactical legal fire work, the suit was struck out within four months. The AGF and Minister of Justice wrote to commend me for my legal dexterity. And I was handsomely paid by the ministry for a job well done. That singular task opened the gate for me to go to University of Westminster, London for my study. Today, I am a proud University of Westminster trained Entertainment Lawyer based in Nigeria plying my trade.
How did you marry Entertainment Law and Theatre Arts?
I started as a Theatre Artiste but because of the environment I found myself, I veered off to study law. I thought of marrying law and theatre arts together, I found that in Entertainment Law. Because of my involvement with the creative process, I knew firsthand what artistic creators go through to get their work done, the pain, and life of penury orchestrated by piracy and copyright infringement. I decided to study Entertainment Law so as to protect my primary constituency -the Arts.
Tell us about the case you filed against MTN?
The Nigerian Copyright Act, CAP 28, LFN, 2004  says copyright infringement can attract criminal and civil action parri passu. In pursuing legal remedy for our client, we filed civil action against MTN at the Federal High Court, Abuja and also reported the copyright infringement case to Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) for investigation. After many months of investigation, the NCC filed criminal charges against MTN. Before the commencement of the trial of both the criminal matter and civil action, parties involved settled out of the Court.
What is your advice for lawyers who want to practice Entertainment Law and what are the emerging legal issues surrounding Entertainment Law in the country?
It is a new area for exploration in Nigeria. For those who want to make a career out of it must be serious and always be in touch with other practitioners in other developed countries to be abreast of the latest happenings.

Today, there is nothing like Entertainment Law in Nigeria. It is still a strange concept to us. Most often, the term ‘Entertainment Law’ is used interchangeably with Intellectual Property. Intellectual property is just a tiny segment of Entertainment Law.
We do however have existing laws that can be invoked to cater for some aspects of Entertainment Law in Nigeria.
We also need legal personnel that are well grounded in the field of Entertainment Law. There should be the Department of Entertainment Law under the Faculty of Law and Intellectual Property should come under here and not the other way round.
Presently there are still many areas that have not be tapped especially in areas like Entertainment Contracts, Merchandising in the Entertainment Business, Sports Law, Technology Rights and the Law and The Media; Ownership, Control and Regulation etc. We have only witnessed remarkable growth in the area of Intellectual Property at the expense of other vital areas. Ambush marketing is still a strange term to us especially in the area of sport. And it is so funny that Nigeria has hosted the World Cup before now. Personal merchandizing field has not been explored. There are so many areas of Entertainment Law that are strange to us here in Nigeria. Entertainment Law goes beyond Intellectual property. It`s tentacle includes Fashion Law, hospitality, events management etc.