Media personality Willis Raburu has welcomed the court's ruling directing Airtel Kenya to compensate him Ksh.6.5 million for the use of his trademark 'Bazu' in their campaign.
In an Instagram post expressing his gratitude to the justice system, Raburu emphasized the significance of the judgment in setting a precedent for the protection of intellectual property and copyright rights.
"I express my gratitude for the recent judgment delivered by Hon. Rawlings Museiga in the magistrate's court, which holds Airtel Kenya accountable for infringing on my registered trademark 'BAZU'.
"This ruling sets a crucial precedent for upholding intellectual property and copyright rights in the future," he wrote.
Acknowledging Airtel Kenya as a respected brand, Raburu emphasized the necessity of safeguarding his brand and name under the 'BAZU' trademark.
He also credited his legal team for their support throughout the legal process. Raburu warned against unauthorized use of the 'Bazu' trademark, affirming that legal notices have been served to those infringing on his intellectual property.
The TV host concluded his post by expressing gratitude for the favourable outcome and emphasizing the importance of respecting intellectual property rights.
In a related case, US-based Kenyan singer Hubert Nakitare, also known as Nonini, successfully pursued legal action against social media influencer Brian Mutinda for using his song 'We Kamu' in an advert without authorization.
The singer was awarded compensation amounting to Ksh 1 million. He later shared his optimism that the victory would set a positive example for the music industry, highlighting the importance of artists being compensated for their hard work.