Popular comedian and skit maker, Chukwuemeka Emmanuel Ejekwu popularly known as Mr Funny or Oga Sabinus has hit the parent company of Peak Milk, Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria Plc with a billion naira suit over unauthorised use of his trademark phrase, ‘something hooge’.
According to the comedian’s representation, Peak Milk used his phrase in an advert posted on their Instagram page on May 24th without authorization.
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The comedian’s lead counsel, Stanley Alieke announced the decision and clarified that the phrase, ‘Something Hooge’ was a registered trademark. He requested for N1 billion in compensation and damages and threatened a lawsuit if Friesland Foods failed to comply in two weeks.
Oga Sabinus
The statement read,
“Our client briefed us and we believe the same to be true that your Company, Friesland Foods Wamco Nigeria Plc, used a trademarked slogan ‘Something Hooge’ for the promotion of your Peak Milk product.”
“The advert which was made on the Peak Milk Nigeria verified Instagram page (peak_milk) was posted on the 24th day of May 2022 which was used to promote the Peak National Breakfast Week.”
“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.”
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“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.”
“And another Five Hundred Million Naira for damages for the trauma; emotional, physical, psychological, and mental trauma our client has suffered for the Trademark theft and infringement of his intellectual property rights.”
Friesland wasn’t the only organisation put on notice. Sabinus also demanded a payment of a hundred million naira (N100m) from UAC Foods for use of an animated version of his image in an advert for the Gala sausage roll.
The notice read, “Your company UAC Food Ltd. has been using the brand picture and other intellectual properties of Sabinus to make adverts for your Gala sausage roll without the consent or authorization of our clients”.
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“The post gathered massive traffic, and engagements and attracted huge followership to your page which only happened because the picture of our client was used for the promotion and advert”, the notice also added.
