REPUBLIC VRS. ABBAN (CR/0583/2022) [2024] GHAHC 273 (19 March 2024)

REPUBLIC VRS. ABBAN (CR/0583/2022) [2024] GHAHC 273 (19 March 2024)

The accused reproduced and distributed soft copies of the Ghana Law Reports without valid authorization from the Council for Law Reporting, satisfying all elements of the offences under sections 42(a) and 42(c) of the Copyright Act, 2005, Act 690. The defence failed to produce credible evidence of a valid license or authorization.

Citation
REPUBLIC VRS. ABBAN (CR/0583/2022) [2024] GHAHC 273 (19 March 2024)
Parties
Prosecution: Republic; Accused: Joseph Bart Abban
Court
ghahc
Jurisdiction
Ghana
Judgment Date
19 March 2024
Procedural Posture
Criminal / Final Judgment
Outcome
conviction
Legal Topics
Copyright Infringement, Distribution of Copyrighted Material, Burden of Proof
Source Language
eng
Intellectual Property Criminal Law Copyright Infringement Distribution of Copyrighted Material Burden of Proof

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Parties

Republic

Prosecution

Joseph Bart Abban

Accused

Procedural Posture

Criminal / Final Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the accused reproduced soft copies of Ghana Law Report without authorization
  2. 2 Whether the accused distributed soft copies of Ghana Law Report without authorization

Ratio Decidendi

The accused reproduced and distributed soft copies of the Ghana Law Reports without valid authorization from the Council for Law Reporting, satisfying all elements of the offences under sections 42(a) and 42(c) of the Copyright Act, 2005, Act 690. The defence failed to produce credible evidence of a valid license or authorization.

Court Disposition

conviction

Orders

  • Accused convicted on both counts
  • Accused sentenced to six months imprisonment