Dawnbell takes copyright royalty fight to High Court

In an appeal filed on October 8, 2026, the academy seeks to overturn a decision delivered by the Magistrate’s Court on September 21, 2026, in a dispute that raises questions about the identification of protected literary works, the collection of royalties and the obligations of institutions using copyrighted material. Dawn Bell lost the legal battle and was ordered to pay over P38, 000 and the academy, represented by Ndadi Law Firm, is challenging the ruling of the lower court. It argues in court papers that the decision effectively imposed liability without requiring COSBOTS to disclose the materials and authors on which its claim was based.“The court a quo erred in holding that the appellant was liable to pay the respondent royalties over materials and authors that were neither disclosed neither to the court nor to the Appellant,” reads one of the grounds of appeal.