Vipi Radio
One of the biggest US-based music and arts festival Coachella is Suing Ghana-based music festival Afrochella for copyright infringement.
Coachella says that Afrochella is riding on its success. According to its organizers, Goldenvoice – Afrochella is “intentionally trading on the goodwill of well-known Coachella and Chella festivals and trademarks by actively promoting music events in the United States and in Ghana using the confusingly similar mark “chella.”
Coachella is a trademark brand registered in the United States and any attempt to use the name, its likeness or a derivation of its construct without the express permission of the trademark holders will result in a copyright breach under the American Trademark Law.
Coachella is one of the biggest music festivals in the world; it draws in about 150,000 people per day for its annual music festival which spans over two weekends. The festival has grossed about $100 million since 2016.
Following the suit, the plaintiffs sought a number of reliefs from the court including:
That the Court issue a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction enjoining and restraining Defendants and their officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and all other persons who are active concert with or participation with any of them, from engaging in any infringing activity including advertising, promoting, marketing, franchising, selling, and offering for sale any goods or services in connection with the COACHELLA Marks or any similar mark, including but not limited to AFROCHELLA.”
If successful, Afrochella will be temporarily barred from using the name ‘Afrochella’ in promoting any events or marketing any product under the name pending the d determination of the suit.
The next Afrochella festival is scheduled for December 28 and 29, 2022 at the El Wak Stadium in Accra, Ghana. The event is billed to be headlined by megastar Burna Boy and superstars including Stonebwoy, Fireboy DML, Ayra Starr, and Black Sherif, amongst others.
