@ObjClothing and Accessories has expressed his dissatisfaction with the
commercialization of his creations for rapper Sarkodie, without his
consent.
He revealed in an interview that he created the concept of a footwear
called Obj Sark 1 for the rapper and presented it to him and his
management team a year ago, but only recently found out in the media
that the rapper had gone ahead to use the concept for his upcoming
clothing line, Sarks Collection.
He explained: “I don’t have a problem if Sarkodie and Sammy Forson
decide to make their own label, but to copy my idea – the artwork of
Sarkodie’s Head – without my consent means none of these guys respected
me, my manager, my work and the copyright laws in Ghana. It was
something I created and presented to them, with the sneaker I designed
and produced called The ObjSark-1 a year ago (17-1-2012)”
Jeremiah also revealed that after trying several times to get in touch
of Sarkodie’s manager, Sammy Forson on the phone, when finally picked up
his call he had nothing to tell the peeved Jeremiah. “I sent him a
message on BBM and finally he responded. I confronted him about what I
saw on the internet and he told me that Sarkodie himself designed that
artwork; I was Like Wow! Now he has deleted me from BB”.
According to Jeremiah, the development shows a lack of unity amongst
Ghanaian artists and a lack of respect for intellectual property. He
said that such behaviors stifle creativity especially amongst young and
talented Ghanaians. “How can we build a sustainable society if we keep
doing? My manager and I were thinking of a Sneaker/Trainer Company in
Ghana using The Obj Sark 1 we made as a starting point.
Hopefully this would have shown the way for many Ghanaians to believe
in themselves and create a small industry within the country instead of
ordering China made goods.”
He concluded, “Let’s learn to keep our word because little ‘little’
disloyal relationships like these turn out to be bigger ones and at the
long run, the whole country suffers. Let’s think and do things
sustainably, a way that our society would benefit not one that divides
us!”
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