Legal action should be taken if you think I stole your song, Wendy Shay

Wendy Shay, a singer, has declared that she is willing to face legal action from anyone who thinks she has broken copyright laws.

Her submission is a reaction to the conversations that have recently surrounded her recently released song, “African Money,” which some people feel is similar to the 2011 song of the same name by musician Barima Sidney.

Similar to Barima Sidney’s piece, Wendy Shay’s new song delivers a powerful message decrying the growing instances of corruption and incompetence by African politicians who amass public resources to profit themselves at the expense of their people.

Some have accused Wendy Shay of music theft and copyright infringement, despite the fact that her song has received praise for its originality and for using music to address significant concerns.

Speaking on UTV Showbiz Night, she stated that although the lyrics of the song may have been inspired by Barima Sidney’s composition, word choice is not restricted by law and no one has any exclusive rights to words.

“I’ve been performing music for more than five years, and I am aware of the regulations around copyright violations and infringements. The use of another person’s speech is not constrained by law. If that’s the case, Nigerian musicians that utilize our terms, such as ODO and OHEMAA, are breaking the rules, but that’s not how it operates.”

“I’m prepared to face renowned Sidney in court if he thinks I stole his work. I’m positive I haven’t violated the copyright rules, but I might even learn something from the process or have to pay a fine if needed. Thus, anyone who thinks I stole the tune is free to file a lawsuit.”

If you believe I have stolen your song, take me to court – @wendyshaygh
#UnitedShowbiz pic.twitter.com/bq7FqPPbYY

— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) October 29, 2023