Crime
Film piracy: Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo secures N25m verdict
A Lagos High Court has ruled in favor of Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo, awarding him a sum of N25 million for the unauthorized use of his film ‘Jelili’ by a video streaming channel.
According to Adebayo, a Nollywood movie streaming platform utilized his film ‘Survival of Jelili’ to promote their platform without his consent. Upon discovering this, he took legal action.
He expressed frustration over the issue, stating, “The Nigerian film industry has seen significant growth over the years, but we have not been able to fully benefit from this business due to audacious pirates who reap where they did not sow. The audacity with which they commit this wrongdoing is alarming.”
Adebayo explained that during the cinema release of “Survival of Jelili” in 2019, his movie was performing well.
However, the streaming platform utilized his movie poster and title to promote a different film on their platform, deceiving fans and diverting revenue rightfully owed to him.
“It took three years, but my trust in the legal and justice system remained unwavering.
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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.“