Ugandan music star Bebe Cool has taken a legal stand against Comedy Store Uganda proprietor Alex Muhangi, accusing him of unlawfully using his performances for commercial purposes. The renowned musician, through his lawyer Timothy Sentongo of RSK Associates, has issued a legal notice to Muhangi, warning him of potential legal action for broadcasting and distributing his content without permission.
According to the legal letter, Bebe Cool alleges that between October 2017 and November 2024, Muhangi used his performances on various media platforms, including YouTube and NTV Uganda, without obtaining proper consent from the artist. The notice, which has been copied to key institutions such as the Uganda Registration Service Bureau’s Directorate of Intellectual Property, Uganda Communications Commission, and Uganda Performing Rights Society, underscores that Muhangi does not have the right to exploit Bebe Cool’s performances for commercial gain.
The letter further outlines the nature of the alleged infringement, describing how Muhangi affixed, distributed, and broadcasted Bebe Cool’s content across multiple channels. Bebe Cool’s legal team asserts that these actions amount to unjust enrichment, causing significant economic harm and violating the musician’s performance rights.
In response to the allegations, Bebe Cool’s legal team, led by Timothy Sentongo of RSK Associates, has outlined several demands. Firstly, they are insisting that Alex Muhangi immediately cease and desist from broadcasting and distributing Bebe Cool’s performances across all media platforms. Additionally, they are demanding the removal of all infringing content related to Bebe Cool’s performances from Muhangi’s platforms, including his YouTube channel and any other outlets where the performances have been broadcasted.
Furthermore, Muhangi is required to provide a full account of the revenues generated from the unauthorized use of Bebe Cool’s content, detailing earnings from all platforms. Lastly, Bebe Cool is seeking compensation for the economic harm and damages caused by the infringement, demanding UGX 579,698,550 as restitution.
These demands come with a 14-day ultimatum for compliance, and should Muhangi fail to meet them, Bebe Cool’s legal team has warned of potential civil and criminal action.The letter has given Muhangi a 14-day ultimatum to comply with these demands, warning that failure to adhere will result in both civil and criminal proceedings.
Bebe Cool’s legal team is determined to pursue the matter through the courts if the issue remains unresolved within the specified timeframe. The case highlights the increasing need for artists to protect their intellectual property rights and ensure that their creative works are used with due respect and proper authorization.
As of now, there has been no public response from Alex Muhangi or Comedy Store Uganda regarding the legal notice.
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