The Commercial division of High Court has ordered Black-Market Records to pay Shs 130 million to singer Kiggundu Bruno, popularly known as Bruno K, for copyright infringement and fraud.
In 2022, Bruno K sued Black Market Records Entertainment-SMC LTD, Singleton Cedric Lychern, Kisame Shadrack Shagaf, and Black-Market Media LLC T for unlawfully and fraudulently exploiting his songs. He sought a permanent injunction, general and exemplary damages, interest, and legal costs.
Bruno K signed a one-year Exclusive Recording Artist Agreement with Black Market Records LLC on May 12, 2020, following negotiations with Singleton and Kisame, who were acting on behalf of the label. Under this agreement, the defendants were responsible for financing all songs composed by Bruno K and sharing the royalties collected.
However, Bruno K told the court that the defendants breached the agreement and became unresponsive. During the contract’s duration, he recorded only one song in collaboration with another artist. When the agreement expired, he informed Singleton and Kisame that he did not wish to renew it. He then independently produced and uploaded several songs to his YouTube channel for promotion.
To his shock, the defendants claimed ownership of all his songs and repeatedly targeted his YouTube channel with false copyright infringement claims. As a result, YouTube took down his songs, and eventually, his entire channel was banned for “continued copyright infringement.”
Later, Bruno K discovered that “Black Market Records LLC,” the entity with which he signed the agreement, did not legally exist at the time of execution. Using this new information, he managed to have his YouTube channel reinstated. However, he asserted that the defendants continued distributing his songs without his consent, profiting from them while withholding his share of royalties.
Bruno K revealed that while he earned $460 from his YouTube channel in 2020 and $1,112.92 in 2021, he made nothing in 2022 due to the ban. After reinstatement in 2023, he earned only $278.
High court Judge Patricia Mutesi ruled in his favor, stating: “It is my considered finding that Black-Market Media LLC T infringed on the plaintiff’s copyright and unlawfully exploited Bruno K’s songs. It did this by making false copyright infringement complaints against him and by distributing his songs for profit without his consent while withholding royalties due to him.”
The court declared the Exclusive Recording Artist Agreement of May 12, 2020, null and void. It ordered Black-Market Media LLC T to provide a full account of its involvement in exploiting Bruno K’s musical works and the royalties earned within 30 days.
Additionally, Black-Market Records was directed to pay: Shs 100 million in general damages, with a 16% interest rate from the date of judgment and Shs 30 million in aggravated damages, with a 15% interest rate.
