Apart from 2baba and Annie Idibia, the photographer is also suing a certain Anthonio Anifite before Justice Mohammed Idris.Okolo claims that the couple made use of photographs he took in 2013, during their traditional wedding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, without duly attributing the works to him or acknowledging him as agreed.
The photographer claimed that the defendants watermarked with ‘2faceonline.com’- 148 out of the 355 high resolution photographs he took.He said the photos were also uploaded on 2face’s official website, thereby denying him credit and referral opportunities.
Okolo said that Annie called him on the telephone a few days after the wedding, to request for copies of the photographs and after they were sent to her, she complained about the watermark of Papilomenxy studios on the pictures.
He claimed that Annie subsequently sent Anifite to negotiate with him to have the photographs released without watermarks- which he claimed to have done, free of charge on the agreement that whenever and wherever they were used, the copyright would be credited to his company.
According to the photographer, his demands were not acquiesced to, as the defendants went ahead to write ‘2faceonline.com’ across 148 of the photographs uploaded on 2baba’s official website.
Okolo, who said he’s “a certified film maker from the prestigious London Film Academy”, claimed to have suffered general and exemplary damages for which he is seeking N120m compensation from 2baba, Annie and Anifite.
However, the defendants urged Justice Idris to dismiss the photographer’s suit while they also filing a countersuit- demanding N150m damages from him and his studio.2baba and Annie alleged that the photographer gate-crashed their traditional wedding, took pictures and circulated same for commercial gains without their permission.
They said he’s “one of the numerous photographers and pseudo-professionals and artisans, who invaded the venue of the ceremonies to eke out a living for themselves without prior consultation with or the consent of the celebrants.”
After their wedding, they claimed to have noticed some strange versions of their wedding pictures circulating online with Papilonmexy studio watermark and after some investigation, they traced them to Okolo.
The photographer, they further claimed, pleaded for forgiveness and urged them to contract him for future events while he also forced the photographs on them, saying he wanted to use their fame to get referrals.They said the photographer was informed that they would only accept the photographs on the condition that he removed the watermark of his company, and he supposedly agreed.
No comments:
Post a Comment