Renowned Nigerian actor, Femi Adebayo, disclosed his victory in a N25 million legal dispute against a media company, shedding light on the growing concern of film piracy in Nigeria.
In a post on his Instagram page (@femiadebayosalami), he detailed his recent encounter with piracy and voiced his dismay at its detrimental effects on the film industry’s economic viability.
Adebayo underscored the hindrance piracy poses to the film sector, lamenting that it obstructs the industry from realizing its maximum potential.
“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.
“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.
“Several times, I have been a victim of movie pirates and I never spared 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 3 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 twenty-five five million Naira.
“This isn’t just my win as a filmmaker and content producer, but a win for all of Nollywood.”
The actor emphasized the importance for filmmakers to be prepared to combat intellectual property theft and piracy at every stage.
“Every win brings us closer to protecting and getting the true economic value of our works,” he said
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