Femi Adebayo Wins N25 Million Against Streaming Channel
Femi Adebayo Wins Piracy Case – ARDNig
A Lagos High Court has granted Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo, N25 million for the unauthorized use of his film ‘Jelili’ by a video streaming channel. Femi shared this news on his Instagram page, revealing that the case was about the piracy of his movie, ‘Survival of Jelili’.
‘Survival of Jelili‘ was released in December 2019. It tells the story of a young man, Jelili, who tries to improve his social status by switching jobs from boxing to modeling. The movie stars Desmond Eliot, Toyin Abraham, and Dele Odule.
Federal High Court Image – ARDNig
The Legal Battle Against Piracy
The legal fight started in March 2021 when Femi sued Murphy Ben International at the Federal High Court in Ibadan. The lawsuit was about the alleged copyright violation of his movies, ‘Survival of Jelili’ and ‘Kodi Ologbon Aye’, which were used by the YouTube channel ‘Aforefo TV’ without permission. Femi accused the YouTube channel of stealing his work to make money.
Femi said, “They used my movie poster and title to promote a movie on their platform, deceiving fans and taking away my earnings.”
The Impact of Piracy on Nollywood
Piracy is a big problem for the Nigerian creative industry, especially Nollywood. For over 20 years, Nollywood has suffered from illegal distributors. Femi wrote, “The Nigerian film industry has grown a lot over the years, but we can’t fully enjoy the benefits because of pirates. This problem makes it hard for investors to trust filmmakers with their money.” Piracy affects producers and everyone involved in making films, often leading to losses instead of profits.
Nollywood Image – ARDNig
A Victory for Nollywood
Femi praised his legal team, Bola Adebowale & Co. Legal Practitioners, for their hard work. He said, “It took three years, but I never lost faith in the legal system. Our legal team presented strong evidence, argued well, and took the case to trial. Their hard work led to our victory and the N25 million award.” Femi believes this win is important for all of Nollywood. He said, “This win isn’t just for me but for all of Nollywood. We must fight IP theft and piracy at all levels. Each victory helps us protect and get the true value of our work.”
Understanding intellectual property – ARDNig
This case teaches filmmakers to protect their work by understanding intellectual property rights and seeking legal help when necessary. It’s important to stay vigilant against piracy and ensure all creative works are properly licensed. By doing so, the industry can grow stronger and more profitable for everyone involved.
