Musician Mikie Wine has responded to a legal notice from fellow artist Ragga Dee, who accuses him of copyright infringement for allegedly reproducing the 2004 hit Nkuguddemu Oyagala Cash in his recent release ‘Zuena’.
In a recent media interview, Mikie Wine acknowledged Ragga Dee’s legacy in the music industry, describing him as a respected veteran whose work inspired him.
He explained that his decision to redo the song was driven by a deep appreciation for its artistic value.
However, Mikie Wine denied claims that he failed to seek Ragga Dee’s permission before recording his version.
“No matter how much I loved the song, I would never go ahead and remake it without consulting its original creator. That would be disrespectful,I informed Ragga Dee before doing the song.”,Mikie said.
Ragga Dee, speaking in a phone interview, challenged this claim, asking Mikie Wine to provide evidence of any such agreement.
“He should present proof. I can’t just let it go when I’m fighting for copyright. In my 35 years in this industry, I’ve avoided conflicts with fellow artists. That’s exactly why I don’t want anyone stepping on my rights,” he said.
Ragga Dee admitted that Mikie Wine had contacted him and requested a meeting at Game on a Sunday, where he expressed admiration for his work and asked for permission to remake the track.
“I told him I needed to consult my management team first because some of my songs were sold, and I’m not allowed to use them due to copyright restrictions,” Ragga Dee explained.
He added that Nkuguddemu Oyagala Cash was one of the songs he chose not to sell, having invested heavily in its production. Despite this, Mikie Wine went ahead and released ‘Zuena’ the following Monday something Ragga Dee says was done without his approval.
“This should serve as a lesson to all artists. No matter how good he is, I would never remake his songs without permission,” Ragga Dee emphasized.
Over the weekend, a letter from MGC Law Advocates surfaced online, outlining Ragga Dee’s legal demands.
The letter stated that Ragga Dee is the rightful copyright holder of Nkuguddemu Oyagala Cash, which was officially registered in 2004. It further alleged that Mikie Wine reproduced the song without consent and performed it under the title Zuena.
Ragga Dee is now demanding Shs300 million in compensation, to be paid within seven days. If Mikie Wine fails to comply, the matter will proceed to court.
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