A Lagos High Court has awarded Nollywood actor and film maker, Femi Adebayo, N25 million for the unlicensed use of his film ‘Jelili’ by a video streaming channel.
According to Adebayo in a recent chat with Nigerian Tribune, a Nollywood movies streaming channel had used his ‘Survival of Jelili’ movie to promote their platform without his consent and when he found out, he sought legal redress.
He said, “The Nigerian film industry has experienced exponential growth over the years, but we haven’t been able to maximise the true dividends of this business because of dare devil pirates who benefit where they didn’t sow. The guts with which they even perpetrate this evil is so alarming.
“This is a major reason why investors find it hard to commit their funds to filmmakers. However, through persistence and the use of the legal framework covering intellectual property, we can bring their activities to a gradual halt.
“Many times, I have been a victim of movie pirates and I never spare them. I recently concluded a legal battle with a notable media company that owns a big radio station and also engages in Youtube content distribution.
“During the cinema run of “Survival of Jelili” in 2019, my movie was gathering good numbers at that time. They decided to use my movie poster and title to promote a movie on their platform, thereby deceiving fans and diverting revenue accrued to me.
“It took three years, but my trust in the legal and justice system remained unwavering. With the dedication of our legal team, Bola Adebowale & Co Legal Practitioners, who are seasoned professionals with wealth of experience in handling such cases. They presented undeniable evidence, put up a strong argument, and took the case to trial.
“Their promptness, efficiency, and attention to detail played a huge part in the direction of the case. We won and were awarded a total of N25m.”
Speaking further, he added, “This isn’t just my win as a filmmaker and content producer but a while for all of us. We need to be ready to fight IP theft and piracy at all levels. Every win brings us closer to protecting and getting the true economic value of our works.“
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