Hello, I am Paul Obanya.👋



I am a motivated law graduate with a strong background in the Entertainment, Sports and Legal sectors. I strive to go above and beyond duties, utilising my abilities to the fullest in order to fulfill the functions of my role.


Blogs
Experience
Skills
Ventures

My favourite quotE




"You can discover more about a person in a hour of play than in a year of conversation." - Plato





My Diary.



Where do i see myself in five years?




There is an ongoing debate between living in the moment and planning for the future. As a driven individual, I stand by the idea that planning for the future can motivate us to achieve great things.


Five years from now, I see myself not only as a qualified solicitor but also as an individual who has thrived in the legal profession. I understand that to reach this point it requires relentless dedication and hard work. Obtaining the necessary qualifications and building a solid client base are essential on this journey.




Potential false endorsement claims for AI songs





The use of AI to use melodies and lyrics of artists to create songs has not been received well by the large music company Universal Music group. This comes after an owner under the name of ‘ghostwriter’ created an AI cover of Drake featuring the weekend of a song called ‘heart on my sleeve’. This AI created song obtained millions of streams on Spotify and UMG who have Drake and The Weekend under their label pushed for the AI cover to be removed.


Whilst UMG sent a letter to streaming platforms asking them to block artificial intelligence platforms from training on the melodies of artists, whether this is actually practicable is yet to be known because AI services will likely still be able to access the copyrighted material one way or another. However, UMG could potentially bring up common law claims under passing off in the UK as it can be argued the constant use of AI covers is a form of false endorsement.



Irvine v Talksport (Passing off)


The case of Eddie Irvine v Talksport, can be likened to how AI songs using known artists to cover songs written by someone else can lead to a common law claim of passing off under English law. In Irvine V Talksport, the claimant Eddie Irivine was a famous F1 driver and the defendant Talksport, a radio station sent out brochures for advertisement which had a picture of Eddie Irivine on front. The court held that this was a false endorsement as Talksports actions were a misrepresentation which insinuated that Irivine had endorsed Talksport.


When an AI system generates a song that mimics the style or voice of a particular artist, it can create the perception that the artist has endorsed or participated in the creation of that song. However, in reality, the AI-generated song is produced without the artist's consent or involvement. This situation raises concerns about the exploitation of an artist's reputation and the potential damage to their market value. Consumers may mistakenly believe that the AI-generated song has received the artist's approval, leading to confusion and potential harm to the artist's brand and commercial interests.


For instance, the release of an AI-generated song featuring Michael Jackson singing a hit song by another artist song called 'Munch' by Ice Spice could misrepresent Michael Jackson's endorsement of Ice Spice. Such misrepresentation has the potential to negatively impact Michael Jackson's reputation and market value.


What's next?


Do we see AI songs lasting especially due to the copyright complications that arise and also the opportunities for potential false endorsement claims as seen in Irvine v Talksport.




Experience.





Bird & Bird

Junior Compliance Officer

Sep'22 - Jan'23

  • Identified clients using the firms data provider software.
  • Analysed and established the corporate structure of companies where relevant.
  • Used my commercial knowledge to establish the clients business activities, jurisdiction and matter description to attribute a risk rating to the client.



Child & Child

Risk & Compliance Assistant

Feb'22 - Sep' 22

  • Responsible for the firms business intakes. This involved carrying out conflict checks and AML checks on each client before setting up the client matter.
  • Responsible for assembling complex corporate structures for fee earner.
  • Created weekly reports using Excel.
  • Responsible for minute taking in head of department meetings.



Sterling Law & Associates

Paralegal

Apr'21 - Sep'21

  • Assisting on EEA applications, asylum cases and appeals.
  • Preparing witness statements and grounds of appeal documents Utilising a legal software called Clio to update the client’s case matter.
  • Drafting correspondence to the home office.



Mordi & Co

Legal Assistant

Oct'20 - Jan'21

  • Facilitating communications between clients and solicitors.
  • Performing probates for clients.
  • Drafting client care letters.



Latham & Watkins

Intern

Aug'20 - Aug'20

  • Assisting in the development of key search terms to identify documents.
  • Preparing witness interviews.


​

Bright Network
Legal Intern

Jul'20 - July'20

  • Attending seminars and workshops hosted by partners that provided a comprehensive view of arbitration and litigation.
  • Assisting in the review of NDAs.
    .Outlining key parts of an acquisition transaction.


COMPANIES I'VE WORKED FOR



VENTURES.





music industry



  • Acted as a social media and marketing manager, leveraging various platforms to build the artist's online presence and engage with fans
  • Collaborated with individuals working for record labels to negotiate contracts and coordinate marketing campaigns
  • Ensured copyright compliance for all released songs
  • Monitored and analysed marketing and social media metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness
  • Developed and executed strategic marketing campaigns to increase the artists visibility,


boxing



  • ABA licensed boxer
  • Selected to participate in training camps alongside renowned professional athletes.


Articles



  • Wrote articles on topics related to intellectual property law within the music industry. Covering emerging trends and legal developments impacting musicians, record labels and other industry stakeholders.


EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATES





Education




Feb' 23 - Present


SQE (Part time/ Online)



Sep'17 - Jul'20



University of Liverpool - Law - 2:1



Sep' 15 - Aug'17



The London Oratory School - A levels - ABB



Sep'10 - June'15


The London Oratory School - 10 GCSES





  • ICA certificate in compliance.
  • The Laws of Digital Data, Content and Artificial Intelligence,






Skills





Organisation



Team player



Written and verbal communication



Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel and Powerpoint)



Problem solving



Multi tasking



Music and sports knowledge



Attention to detail



Business and Leadership



Administrative skills



Analytical skills



Legal research skills



Email: pobanya@gmail.com Contact: 07956040698