There is a new development in the contract dispute between Kiss Daniel
and his former label, G-Worldwide as they now lay claim to the ownership
of his new name, Kizz Daniel.
G-Worldwide now reportedly owns the name, Kizz
Daniel as it continues its contract dispute with the artist formerly
known as Kiss Daniel.
Kiss Daniel has been in a
long drawn battle with his erstwhile label,
G-Worldwide since he announced his departure from their stables on October 13 2017 and set up his own imprint, FlyBoy Inc.
He then went ahead to effect a change to his stage name from Kiss Daniel to
Kizz Daniel, but the name change doesn't seem to have come with any respite as the label have now gone ahead to trademark the new name.
In a statement released by the record label Friday, June 15 2018, excerpts from the statement reads;
''The
Management of G-Worldwide Entertainment wishes to inform the general
public that the matter of G-Worldwide Entertainment Ltd v Oluwatobiloba
Daniel Anidugbe before the Federal High Court, Lagos Division, is still
ongoing contrary to the fake news being peddled by the artiste and his
advisers to mislead the public.
Following
several requests and enquiries by Nigerian and foreign online media and
entertainment outfits about the status of the matter, it has become
needful to notify the public of the current state of facts.
The
suit at the Federal High Court last came up on 16th May 2018 whereupon
our lawyers informed the Judge of a pending application for status quo
to further restrain the rebellious acts of the artiste in view of the
recent release of previously unreleased songs from the Evolution album,
as well as the continued use of the name Kiss Daniel without our
approval...
It also interesting to inform
the public that the Court was informed about the artiste’s release of
the new song titled 4 Dayz, and For You a collaboration with WizKid,
which are songs from the Evolution album, the ownership of which forms the subject matter of the suit at Federal High Court.
We
therefore need to let the public know that these releases demonstrate
that the artiste is on a trip to put the credibility of other artistes
whom he collaborates with in question.We are also aware that the artiste has released the video of 4 Days, done a collaboration with Sheyi Shay titled Surrender,
and another song, Me ke with Omawumi by changing his name from ’Kiss Daniel’
to ‘‘Kizz Daniel’’.
Let the whole world also take note that
G-Worldwide is also the owner of the name ‘‘Kizz Daniel’’ (see
acceptance and acknowledgement documents from the Ministry of Trade
& Investment).
All digital platforms have
been put on notice for take down of infringing materials where the name
Kizz Daniel is in use, and we have responded to foreign and local media
outfits on this issue following calls for clarification.
We
also wish to formally inform the public that the artiste’s use of the
names Kiss Daniel and Kizz Daniel amount to breach of the company’s
intellectual property rights. Thank you.
Pulse has made several attempts to reach the singer's manager, Ubi Franklin but there has not been any response.
Kiss Daniel's name change doesn't change anything, says G-Worldwide
It will be recalled that following the name change on
his social media platforms sometime in May, which was immediately
followed by quick fire releases of collaborations with other artistes.
His former manager, Louiza Williams, had stated in an interview that the singer’s recent action had no effect on the court case.
“I
actually did not know that he had changed his name until you told me.
However, there is no big deal about that; it has nothing to do with the
case.
The next court date is June 26. It
is not true that the case has been settled; so, I don’t know where all
those reports came from. If there was anything like that, I would be
aware of it.
Kiss Daniel was signed to G-Worldwide Entertainment in 2013, releasing his breakout single, Woju in 2015, with his debut album “New Era” released in 2016.