The Court of Appeal, Lagos Judicial Division, has dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd/Gte against the Nigerian Copyright Commission, thereby affirming the decision of the Federal High Court refusing to grant COSON’s application for an interlocutory injunction against the Commission.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on July 9, 2026, the appellate court awarded ₦200,000 costs against COSON.
The lead judgment was delivered by Justice Polycarp Terna Kwahar, JCA, while Justice Folasade Ayodeji Ojo, JCA, and Justice Muslim Sule Hassan, JCA, concurred.
The appeal arose from COSON’s substantive suit challenging aspects of the Copyright (Collective Management Organisations) Regulations, 2007.
Pending the determination of the suit, COSON had applied to the Federal High Court for an interlocutory injunction restraining the Nigerian Copyright Commission from revoking its operating approval or interfering with its management, funds, bank accounts, audits and royalty-collection activities.
The Federal High Court refused the application, prompting COSON to approach the Court of Appeal.
However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and upheld the lower court’s decision, holding that COSON had not made out a proper case for the grant of the interim protection it sought against the Commission.
The judgment means the Nigerian Copyright Commission remains free to continue exercising its statutory regulatory functions over collective management organisations pending the determination of the substantive suit.
