Nollywood: Nigeria's Multi-million Dollar Film Industry and the Fear of Imminent Collapse Under the Burden of Copyright Infringements and Organised Network of Piracy

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Date

2023

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Lead City University Ibadan

Abstract

This study investigated stakeholders' perception of copyright laws infringements on Nollywood home movies. Survey research design was adopted with group discussion and key-personality interviews with movie producers, licensed movie marketers, actors, actresses and viewers of Nollywood home videos. One hundred and eight (108) stakeholders were purposively stratified and randomly selected around Lagos. Frequency counts, percentages and chi-square test were used for data analysis. A null hypothesis was tested at (.005) level of significance. The Pearson Chi–Square decision shows a value of 1.489 with degree of freedom (DF) put at 29. The calculated P value is 0.000. Null hypothesis that there is no copyright infringement and piracy affecting Nollywood industry was rejected. It was confirmed that there is high level of copyright infringement and organised piracy of Nollywood movies. Findings reveal that intellectual property rights of Nollywood movie creators are equally violated. The illegal practice is flourishing as a lucrative business. Findings also show that copyright infringement kills creativity and innovations in Nigeria. The study concluded that the rate of video piracy in Lagos alone (82%) is alarming and perpetuated with high level secrecy and criminality, using sophisticated technology including the video piracy on the internet. The study recommends thatthe Federal government should eradicate copyright infringement throughstricter laws with severe penalties of pirates. Regulatory bodies should intensify awareness campaigns on the evils of copyright infringements. Government should also enter into production treaties to prevent sales of pirated Nollywood movies in other countries.

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Keywords

Nollywood movies, Copyright Laws, Intellectual property, Infringement, Video Piracy

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